Explosions, fire at Kualit Alam Waste Management Centre in Seremban

Anxious moments ensued after the sounds of explosions followed by the sound of a fire alarm, resulting in workers running helter-skelter to save themselves in a fire incident at the Kualiti Alam Waste Management Centre (KAWMC) in Seremban about 12pm today.

Describing the incident, a Nepalese cleaning worker identified only as Santosh, 26, said he was resting at that time when he was shocked by the sounds of several loud explosions.

"We all dashed out of there as soon as we heard the fire alarm and ran two kilometres to the main road.

‘’Prior to this, our employers often reminded us to leave the (KAWMC) area in case of emergency. The security guards also ordered us to get out of the area,’’ he said when met at the scene here.

A lorry driver, who declined to divulge his name, said that at first there only a small fire and he also saw the Fire and Rescue Department firemen working to put out the fire and the situation was still under control.

‘’I left for lunch and did not expect the fire to spread so quickly and back up was sought from more Fire and Rescue stations.

‘’I wanted to go back to my place of work but the guard had barred us from entering as it was too dangerous,’’ he said.

In the incident at noon, a chemical store was razed involving flammable liquids and some combustible materials.

Work to put out the fire was being carried out by about 20 firemen including a Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) response team. The fire at the centre was the second to have taken place and the first was in 2015.

- Bernama