MELAKA: Unknown to Mohd Ariffin Bujang, a visit to deliver food and necessities to his elder sister at Kampung Tambak Paya, would have caused him to suffer from gas poisoning.
“I couldn’t breathe and I felt like I was going to die but I forced myself to endure the pain. My only thought was getting my family out of the house to safety,” said the 63-year-old chlorine gas leak victim.
Mohd Ariffin had arrived at his sister, Minah Bujang’s house, at about 12pm on Thursday to bring over some food and necessities. He was fixing the plumbing in the toilet when the incident took place.
His 69-year-old sister’s home is located just next to the unoccupied house where authorities found seven conveniently disposed 1,000kg cylindrical gas tanks, which contained chlorine gas.
One of the gas tanks was leaking, sickening the residents here.
“I smelt a strong pungent odour which irritated my eyes and throat. It was really terrible.
“I went to check where the source came from and I could see yellow fumes coming from the drain along my sister’s house just 30m away.
“All of us were so weak at that time. Although I was suffocating, I wasted no time and immediately asked my sister, nephew, niece, and grandson to get into my car and we rushed to a private clinic in Duyong,” Mohd Ariffin told reporters when met at Kampung Tambak Paya today.
Minah said she was relieved that her brother was around when the incident took place.
“I cannot imagine what would have happened if my brother was not here. I may not be able to escape in time since I live alone. God is great,” she said.
She added that her brother, who lives in Shah Alam, usually visits her once a month but he had postponed his visits twice before he finally came yesterday.
The family was speaking to reporters at their home after they were allowed to return home at 11.30am this morning after spending the night at a homestay in Ayer Molek.
“We were given inhalers and nebulizers to help us breathe. Thankfully, we are fine now,” he said.
In the 5.30pm incident yesterday, 210 residents of Kampung Tambak Paya were ordered to evacuate their homes after authorities confirmed a chlorine gas leak in the area.
Ninety-three people were evacuated to a relief centre in Sekolah Kebangsaan Paya Tambak, while 117 villagers took shelter at their friends’ or relatives’ houses outside of the 3km radius zone.
The incident also saw 61 people, including three firemen and a policeman, being treated at the Melaka Hospital (43 victims) and the Jasin Hospital (18 victims) when they experienced breathing difficulties.