3 DEAD IN KUCHING MALL BLAST
41 people hurt when gas tank explodes, causing eatery’s ceiling to collapse
THREE people were killed when the ceiling of a Korean restaurant at the CityONE Megamall collapsed following a gas tank explosion.
Fourty-one others, among them 11 women, were injured in the 3.35pm incident. Four people who were seriously hurt were sent to Sarawak General Hospital for treatment.
Two of the dead were identified as the restaurant’s workers, while the other was a construction worker involved in renovations at the premises.
They are O Kui Lim, 49, and Tchee Kiom Joong, 24 from Kuching and Chin Hsien Loong, 29, from Butterworth, Penang.
State Fire and Rescue Department director Khirudin Drahman said five of those injured were women, adding that the identities of the victims had yet to be determined. “We received a distress call at 3.37pm and despatched more than 30 personnel, including Hazmat (hazardous materials) and EMRS (Emergency Medical Response Service) units to the scene,” he said.
Khirudin said investigations revealed that the gas tank, which exploded, was used for welding work at the restaurant.
“It is understood that the restaurant renovations were due to end today and that the place was to open tomorrow. The restaurant workers and the contractors were busy making the final preparations. Some of those injured were patrons of the shopping complex who were walking past when the blast occurred.”
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Ng Ah Lek said no criminal elements were found in the incident.
“Based on initial investigations by the Fire and Rescue Department, there had been a gas leak.
“It was ignited by the sparks from the welding going on at the restaurant, causing the gas tank to explode.
This case has been classified as a workplace accident,” he said at the scene.