IPOH: Witnesses could only watch in horror as flames engulfed the shop in the Jelapang Maju Industrial Area.
They heard the cries for help, but there was nothing they could do, the heat from the flames driving them back as they approached the premises.
“Mak, tolong (Mother, help),” a voice from within the shop could be heard over the deafening roar of the inferno. Yet there was nothing they could do.
Seven people were in the shop at the time of the 2pm incident: P. Thiagarajan, the 40-year-old owner of the business; his wife; and, five employees. Only the wife managed to make it out alive.
The owner’s 48-year-old brother Appu said the business was a one-stop event management company which was licensed to use pyrotechnics.
“I was on the five-foot way nearby when I heard a loud explosion, followed by the sounds of fireworks exploding and a raging fire on the upper level of the two-storey building. I tried to use a fire extinguisher to put out the flames but it was of no use as the blaze spread so quickly.
“I felt afraid, shocked, saddened... I could hear the shouts for help but there was nothing I could do,” he said when met at the scene.
Appu said he worked as a security guard at a nearby housing estate but during the day, he would stay at the premises.
“My brother and his five workers in their 20s were at the upper level at the time of the incident. My sister-in-law was in the office on the lower level and because of this, she managed to make it out alive.
“I have been living in the premises since my brother began his business more than 10 years ago,” he said.
A resident at the nearby housing estate said he, too, heard a loud explosion at the very beginning of the incident.
The man in his 50s, who only wanted to be known as Ahmad, said his whole house shook from the explosion.
“I was in my house, some 150m away, when the explosion occurred. I ran out of the house to see what had happened.
“I saw the raging fire and a thick plume of smoke like a mushroom from the shop. I also heard fireworks going off and saw them shooting out of the building,” he said.
Meanwhile, state Criminal Investigation Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Yahya Abd Rahman said the bodies of the victims were too badly burnt to be identified as yet.
He said all six bodies were found on the upper level of the premises.
Yahya said the remains of the victims were brought to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) mortuary for post mortem examination where DNA samples will be taken in order for the identities of each to be ascertained.
He said initial investigations revealed the fire began on the upper level of the premises, adding that checks had also revealed that the premises was not licensed for storage of explosive materials.
“On our part, we are investigating how it is the premises had been used to store explosive materials. The premises next door, which houses a business with an explosives expert, is licensed, but this one was not. Even if both premises were owned by the same person, explosive materials cannot be kept here and should have been kept elsewhere,” he said.
Yahya said the case has been classified under Section 304 of the Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
He said police would record a statement from the owner’s wife, who had survived the incident.
State Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Sayani Saidon said 20 firemen were involved in the operation to put out the fire.
He said firemen managed to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading within minutes of arriving at the scene.
“We found signs that an explosion had occurred and traces of explosive materials having been stored in the premises. Based on the signboard for the business, this was an event management company, but we found traces of explosive materials upstairs.”
