KAJANG: A massive fire broke out at a cooking gas factory in Semenyih last night causing tens of gas cylinders to be blown up into the air.
Kajang police chief ACP Ab Rashid Ab Wahab said 2,000 gas cylinders, a tanker, a lorry laden with cylinders, a Proton Waja car and a motorcycle were also damaged in the 8.30 pm incident.
He said 30 rescue personnel including police managed to put out the fire in 40 minutes.
"Initial investigations found that the fire was caused by a leak in the gas connector of the tanker.
"We're also investigating whether the factory was legal as the owner has disappeared," he told reporters at the scene.
Ab Rashid said the factory, believed to have started operations last month did not appear to have any adequate safety features.
A witness, Tazrul Tahir, 25, said he was at his house nearby the factory at the time.
"I heard a very loud explosion. When I ran out to take a look I saw the sky on fire and gas cylinders flying up as high as four-storeys," he said. -- BERNAMA

