ALOR STAR: A fire in Jalan Kampung Tongkang Yard here early yesterday morning has claimed the lives of two men.

The victims were believed to be self-employed Ibrahim Mydin, 61, and odd-job worker Muhammad Muslim Mohd Zaini, 22.

Their identities, however, have yet to be confirmed through DNA tests as the bodies were severely burnt.

State Fire and Rescue Department Zone 1 chief Fire Superintendent I Ahmad Aminuddin Abd Rahim said the fire was reported at 6.51am.

“Upon arrival, we found a twostorey house, made of brick and wood, engulfed in flames.

“The fire was brought under control by 7.11am. We later found two charred bodies on the ground floor, about 0.6m apart,” he said at a press conference at the scene yesterday.

He said initial findings suggested that the victims were sleeping on the upper floor before they died, and the wooden floor collapsed, causing the victims’ bodies to drop to the ground floor.

Investigations were ongoing to confirm this.

“The house was 70 per cent destroyed, with the living room and upper floor suffering the most damage.

“The door was locked when firefighters arrived, and investigations are being conducted to determine the cause and origin of the fire.”

The bodies had been sent to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital for post-mortem, and police were investigating whether there were any elements of foul play.

Muslim’s biological father, Mohd Zaini Hashim, 63, said several factors suggested his son was one of the deceased.

“Based on the charred motorcycle, the location of the bodies, and the fact that he hasn’t answered my calls, I believe it was my son,” he said.

“The bodies were completely burnt... I accept this as fate. Even without confirmation, I already feel the loss.”

Zaini said he was alerted to the fire at 7am and rushed to the scene.

“The last time I saw my son was yesterday at 11am at his grandparents’ house in Kuala Kedah. He was cleaning the yard for a cousin’s engagement ceremony at the end of the month.

“We didn’t talk much as I was heading to work. I just told him to enjoy his work,” he said, adding that his son had been living with his adopted father for the past three years.

Ibrahim’s biological son, Mohd Akram, 32, also believed his father was among the victims.

“I visited him yesterday evening. We talked about work, and I left for Kuala Kedah. He closed the gate at about 11pm. That was the last time I saw him,” said Akram.

In Klang, a fire at a gas storage factory in Taman Aman Perdana early yesterday morning left three people severely injured.

State Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (Operations) Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said seven foreigners were involved in the incident.

Four managed to escape, while three suffered severe burns in the 12.55am fire at KL Gas Enterprise Sdn Bhd on Jalan Aman Perdana 6.

He said a team of firefighters from the Klang Utara station arrived within minutes and found the three-storey semi-detached factory engulfed in flames.

“The blaze had spread to two adjoining structures: a heavy machinery storage warehouse next to the gas storage and a copper processing plant located behind it.

“Both buildings sustained significant damage, with the factory and warehouse 80 per cent destroyed, while the copper processing plant was about 20 per cent burnt,” he said.

He added that 43 firefighters and 11 vehicles, including fire engines, were deployed from multiple fire stations, including Klang Utara, Klang Selatan, Andalas, Bukit Jelutong, Kapar, Damansara, and Pelabuhan Klang, to help with the firefighting operation.

The operation, led by senior officer Shaharil Mohamad Hassan @ Ibrahim, successfully brought the fire under control by 2am.

“The exact cause of the fire and estimated losses have yet to be determined. Investigations are ongoing to confirm the cause.”