20 workers escape as factory goes up in flames
JOHOR BARU: A metal stamping and powder coating factory in Desa Cemerlang was badly damaged in a fire here.
Factory worker Mohamed Bakhtiar Aman, 27, said he ran out on hearing an explosion and saw the factory on fire.
“Several workers tried to douse the flames but the fire spread very fast,” he said, adding that they could not salvage anything.
Another worker, Mohd Zahid Abdul Razak, 38, said most of the staff dashed out of the building after the explosion.
“Within minutes, the whole building was in flames. Luckily, everyone managed to escape safely,” he said, adding that about 20 of them were working when the incident occurred yesterday.
Johor Jaya Fire and Rescue Department operation head Syed Nasir Syed Abu Bakar said it received a distress call at around 2.43pm.
“Twenty firemen from the Johor Jaya and Johor Baru fire stations and 10 volunteer firemen from Ulu Tiram and Kulai were sent to put out the fire,” he said.
Syed Nasir said they managed to bring the fire under control in five minutes.
“It took more than four hours to completely put out the fire.
“We are investigating the cause and total losses incurred,” he said, adding that the fire had damaged about 60% of the building.