Uncle, 8-year-old nephew die in Klang shoplot blaze

 

Firefighters at the scene of a fire at Taman Bayu Perdana, Klang. – Pic courtesy of Fire and Rescue Department

SHAH ALAM: Two people died while two others were rescued after a fire broke out at a three-storey shoplot in Taman Bayu Perdana, Klang, this evening.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department operations assistant director Ashrul Riezal Ashbar said the department received an emergency call at 5.51pm before personnel from the Port Klang Fire and Rescue Station arrived eight minutes later.

He said firefighters found the blaze on the second floor of a Class A building, with about 90 per cent of the premises damaged.

"Based on information from the family, there were four people in the building, two of whom were rescued by members of the public.

"After the fire was extinguished, two other victims who were trapped were found in separate toilets at 6.33pm," he said in a statement today.

The victims were a 66-year-old man and an eight-year-old boy, who were believed to have died in the toilets.

Ashrul Riezal said Health Ministry personnel confirmed the deaths before the bodies were handed over to the police Forensics Unit at 10.15pm.

"The two victims were uncle and nephew.

"The two survivors suffered breathing difficulties and were taken to Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR), Klang, for treatment," he said.

He said the department's forensic team, together with its K9 unit, conducted preliminary investigations to determine the cause of the fire.

"The premises have been handed over to the department's Fire Investigation Unit for further action. Firefighting operations ended completely at 10.05pm," he said.

Meanwhile, South Klang district police chief Assistant Commissioner Lim Jit Huey confirmed the incident and said an official statement would be issued soon. - NST