11 suffer burns after fire starts in petrol station

KOTA BARU - Eleven people suffered burns including three critically injured in a fire believed to be triggered by a spillage from an oil storage tank at a petrol station in Dataran Shell at Gua Musang, on Wednesday night.

The critically injured were identified as Muhammad Azman Hamad, 18; Tengku Ahmad Faqih Tengku Abdullah, 20; and Norazita Azmira, 23, in the incident which occurred at 10.10pm.

State fire and rescue department director Azmi Othman said the spillage was believed to have occurred while a lorry tanker was transferring fuel into an underground storage tank at the station.

"The oil spill flowed down the slope about 100 metres away and suddenly the area burst into flames which caught the victims off guard," he said, adding that most of the victims were having supper at nearby stalls.

Azmi said victims Azman and Tengku Ahmad Faqih were warded at the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital (HRPZII) hospital while Norazita at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital (HUSM) in Kubang Kerian here.

"Azman was the most critical with a 100 per cent burns on his body but is reported to be in a stable condition," he said after visiting him at HRPZII yesterday.

He said apart from the three, another five were also warded at HUSM, HRPZII and Kuala Krai hospital. The other eight victims were identified as Mohd Zulizhar Othman, 16; Siti Zabariah Idris, 53; Mohamad Shahir Hafizi Ahmad, 25; Mohd Faris Ikhwan Mohd Azimi, 25; Nor Marisah Mohd Yusof, Nor Asyikin Mohd Salleh and Mohd Quizuel Hakim Bahri, all 20, and a woman only identified as Dayang Nur Liyana.

Azmi said the other victims were discharged after they were given outpatient treatment at the Gua Musang hospital.

"Four of the victims who were all aged 20 are students from Kolej Poly-Tech Mara in Gua Musang," he said.

Azmi said 16 firemen in two fire engines rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call at 10.21pm and took about 10 minutes to douse the flames.