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A FIRE broke out at an aluminium processing plant in the Samalaju heavy industrial estate in northern Sarawak last night, causing an explosion that ripped apart a processing complex.
The incident happened around midnight and the fire was contained at around 2.30am, with the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department safely evacuating dozens of workers from the site.
“We have since deployed personnel from Hazmat (the hazardous material unit) to the site.
“The molten aluminium cannot be contained using water due to its extreme temperature.
“Using water will result in even worse consequences,” said the Fire Department in its updates.
The cause of the fire and explosion are still being investigated.
The department had also sought the help of the environmental authorities to check if there was any threat to the air and environment due to the incident.
This is the second incident at the Samalaju heavy industrial estate over the past three weeks.
On August 16, a fire at Samalaju Industrial Estate caused an explosion. Two elected politicians from Gabungan Parti Sarawak expressed fears that dangerous chemical pollutants may have been released into the atmosphere as a result of the incident.
Tanjung Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang and Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing had separately called for a thorough analysis of the incident.
In the first incident, two workers were killed while eight others were hospitalised.
Samalaju is located about 150km south of Miri city along the Miri-Bintulu second coastal highway. – September 10, 2024.
