RECYCLING FACTORY IN BUKIT MINYAK RAZED IN FIRE, NO CASUALTIES

BUKIT MERTAJAM, March 16 (Bernama) -- A recycling factory in Jalan Perindustrian Bukit Minyak here was destroyed in a fire today, with thick smoke enveloping the area.

However, no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.

Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director, Mohamad Shoki Hamzah said they received a distress call at 11.37 am, and firefighters were immediately dispatched to the scene.

"Upon arrival, they found a recycling factory, approximately 2,000 square metres in size, engulfed in flames. The fire was raging at that time, and by the afternoon, more than 90 per cent of the factory had been destroyed.

"The fire department carried out containment and extinguishing efforts by dividing the operation into four sectors before the fire was brought under control at 2.02 pm," he said when contacted by Bernama today.

Mohamad Shoki said the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are still under investigation, while over 100 officers and firefighters from the Paya Terubong, Sungai Bakap, Batu Kawan, and Bukit Mertajam fire stations, assisted by the Padang Lalang, Permatang Tinggi, Kota Permai, Taman Merak Jaya, and Juru Volunteer Fire Brigade teams, were involved in the firefighting operation.

He said that as of 7 pm, the fire had been fully extinguished, but fire department operations are still ongoing at the factory as they need to ensure that no embers or flames remain in the area.

-- BERNAMA