KUCHING: Three people were killed when the ceiling of a Korean restaurant at the City One Mega Mall collapsed on them following a gas tank explosion there.
Fourty-one other people were injured, four seriously, in the 3.35pm incident. They are being treated at the Sarawak General Hospital.
Two of the dead were identified as workers at the restaurant while the other was a construction worker involved in renovations at the premises.
State Fire and Rescue Department director Khirudin Drahman said the identities of the victims had yet to be ascertained.
“We received a distress call at 3.37pm and immediately despatched more than 30 personnel, including Hazmat (hazardous materials) and EMRS (Emergency Medical Response Service) units to the scene. Of the three who were killed, two were locals and the other was from Penang,” he said.
Khirudin said initial investigations revealed that the gas tank which exploded was being used for welding working at the restaurant.
“We understand that the restaurant renovations were due to end today and that it was to be opened tomorrow. The restaurant workers and the contractors were busy making the final preparations at the time.
“Some of those injured were patrons of the shopping complex who happened to have been walking past when the explosion occurred.
Meanwhile, district police chief Assistant Commissioner Ng Ah Lek said no criminal elements were involved in the incident.
“Based on initial investigations by the Fire and Rescue Department, there had been a gas leak and this was ignited by the sparks from welding work going on at the restaurant, causing a gas tank to explode. This case has been classified as a workplace accident,” he said at the scene.