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Published: Thursday August 23, 2012 MYT 7:18:00 PM
Updated: Thursday August 23, 2012 MYT 8:42:36 PM

Car lubricant factory goes up in flames

By DESIREE TRESA GASPER


JOHOR BARU: A major fire broke out at a car lubricant factory in Taman Kota Putri here Thursday afternoon, causing clouds of thick black smoke that could be seen from some 10km away.

Crowds of people gathered to watch as multiple fireballs erupted and explosions were heard from inside the building.

Factory owner Voon Lin Yau, 62, said she realised the building was on fire only after hearing her workers screaming from the lower floor of the building.

"I quickly rushed down and found a portion of the lower floor in flames.

"I then grabbed a fire extinguisher to try and douse the flames but the fire was just too big," she said.

Johor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Hamid Suari said six vehicles and 38 firemen were deployed to the scene.

"We received the emergency call around 4.16pm and arrived by 4.30pm but the flames were already quite big.

"The explosions were from containers exploding in the building," he said, adding that officials were still investigating the cause of the fire and total losses.

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