JOHOR BARU: A routine errand turned into a nightmare for a worker who was forced to abandon his company's new lorry as fire rapidly spread from a nearby engine oil storage facility.

Aiman Abdullah, 23, had gone to a recycling centre to purchase a used water tank when the blaze broke out yesterday. "The fire started around 12.30pm.

"I saw thick smoke and flames coming from the section where hundreds of drums and oil containers were stored," he said.

Trapped inside the compound, he was advised by firefighters not to drive out through the main entrance due to the danger.

He parked the one-tonne lorry further and fled through a narrow path to a nearby construction site about 100 metres away.

Hoping the distance would spare the vehicle, he watched helplessly as the fire, fuelled by leaking engine oil, quickly engulfed it, reducing it to a charred metal frame.

Yesterday, the Fire and Rescue Department reported receiving a distress call at 12.54pm. Fifteen vehicles were reported lost.

As of midday today, thick smoke was still seen billowing from the site, although firefighters confirmed 80 per cent of the fire had been extinguished.

The burnt-out remains of lorries, motorcycles, cars and metal scraps drew crowds from surrounding areas, including residents of Taman Megah Ria, just 50 metres from the site.

Long-time resident Lim Cheng Woon, 50, said he was unaware such a hazardous facility was located so close to his home.

"We didn't even know there was an engine oil storage next to our houses until the fire happened. "We sincerely hope it gets relocated.

"We don't want another disaster like this," he said.

Meanwhile, the Johor Department of Environment (DOE) confirmed that no abnormal readings of ammonia or other hazardous emissions had been detected in the vicinity.

The fire broke out an industrial facility storing engine oil and lorries along Jalan Cenderai 27, Taman Kota Puteri.

– Bernama

JOHOR BARU, June 22 — The Johor Department of Environment (DOE) did not detect any readings for ammonia at all monitoring locations around the area of the lorry and engine oil store fire at Jalan Cenderai 27, Taman Kota Puteri, Masai, here this morning.

Johor Department of Environment director Dr Mohd Famey Yusoff said this included the fire control post which recorded non-hazardous ammonia readings during monitoring conducted last night.

He said the monitoring, which began at 10am this morning, also involved Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Kota Puteri, Makmur Maju Logistic Sdn Bhd and Jalan Cenderai 27, here.

“The results of air quality monitoring at all locations near the fire site, (also found) no readings for gas parameters and volatile organic compound (VOC) were detected,” he said in a statement today.

Johor Fire and Rescue Department Zone 1 chief, Senior Fire Superintendent I Zaipulbahri Mat Rusok was reported to have said that the operation in Division 1 following the fire at the store was completed at 4am this morning.

However, he said that extinguishing work at Division 2 at the incident location was still continuing due to difficulties due to the obstruction of large and numerous oil drums, making it difficult for firefighters to access the fire to extinguish the fire.

A total of five premises were burnt in the incident involving an area of about 1,000 square metres, including 15 vehicles that were also destroyed.

The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) operations centre received an emergency call on the incident at 12.54pm and a total of 34 personnel and assets from several fire stations including volunteer teams were rushed to the scene. — Bernama

JOHOR BARU, June 22 — The Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) has identified 10 premises operated by different companies within the site of a fire at a lorry and engine oil storage facility in Jalan Cenderai, Taman Kota Puteri, Masai, covering an estimated area of 64,664 square metres.

Johor Baru Mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad said investigations found that only one of the premises, a palm oil storage facility, had been licensed by the council and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

He said the remaining businesses, including a car wash, vehicle parking, a used items dealer, and workshops, were found to be operating without valid licences, and the council would take further action against those involved.

“The land was leased to these premises, but we found only the palm oil storage facility to be licensed. Therefore, MBJB will take further action, including requesting the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) to act, especially since one of the tenants deals in scrap materials,” he told reporters after visiting the scene today.

Earlier, Bernama’s check at the scene found that the road leading to the fire site had been cordoned off by authorities. Members of the public were seen gathering in the area since early this morning to view the aftermath of the blaze.

The Fire and Rescue Department’s Operations Centre (JBPM) received an emergency call about the incident at 12.54 pm yesterday, and 34 personnel with assets from multiple fire stations, including auxiliary units, were deployed to the location.

Five premises were affected in the fire, which destroyed an area of about 1,000 square metres and 15 vehicles. — Bernama

GUERRERO, 20 Jun- Taufan Erick terus melanda pantai negeri Guerrero, Mexico pada Khamis dengan hujan lebat dan banjir, meskipun ribut itu semakin lemah selepas membadai pesisir selatan Pasifik negara berkenaan.

Ribut itu meninggalkan kesan kerosakan terhadap premis perniagaan dan jalan raya yang dibanjiri di seluruh negeri Guerrero.

Penduduk tempatan dilihat meninjau kerosakan, manakala pihak berkuasa memberi amaran bahawa hujan lebat akibat Taufan Erick masih berisiko dan berbahaya.

Di kawasan pantai La Bocana, kenderaan dilihat meredah jalan yang dinaiki air susulan hujan berterusan meningkatkan risiko banjir di seluruh kawasan terbabit.

Nelayan di pantai La Bocana Gustavo Hernandez, berkata, kawasan rumah paling terjejas berikutan taufan yang melanda kawasan itu.

"Kami berada di sini di pantai La Bocana. Rumah-rumah paling terjejas, dengan beberapa bumbung yang diperbuat daripada timah rosak. Di sinilah kami melihat kerosakan yang paling banyak.

"Sesetengah perniagaan mempunyai bumbung yang diperbuat daripada kayu diterbangkan angin kuat hingga menyebabkan struktur bangunan runtuh," katanya.

Restoran dan premis perniagaan di tepi pantai antara yang paling terjejas, dengan serpihan kayu dan ranting bertaburan di sepanjang pantai.

Sementara itu pemilik hotel Martha Bustos, berkata, hotel miliknya hanya mengalami kerosakan kecil dan masih b eroperasi seperti biasa.

"Saya datang untuk melihat apa yang berlaku kepada perniagaan saya dan saya melihat bahawa kami baik-baik saja. Saya bersyukur ia hanya kerosakan kecil.

"Di sini, tidak terjejas seperti di kebanyakan lokasi tetapi keadaan hujan masih berterusan. Buat masa ini semuanya baik-baik saja. Beberapa hari lalu terdapat sedikit gangguan yang menjejaskan kami, tetapi sekarang, semuanya baik-baik saja," katanya.

Dalam pada itu Agensi Perlindungan Awam Mexico mengesahkan tiada kematian dilaporkan setakat ini.

Namun, pihak berkuasa terus mengingatkan orang ramai agar berwaspada terhadap risiko hujan lebat yang masih berterusan ketika ribut bergerak ke kawasan pedalaman.- REUTERS