Fertiliser factory explosion injures 20 including passers-by

KUCHING: A powerful past noon explosion in a fertiliser factory rocked Serian town, about 60km from here.

The impact of the explosion, brought down the the whole factory building and shattered glass panels of many business premises, including a petrol kiosk some 500 metres away.

The shock waves caused by the blast could be felt a kilometre away.

It toppled electric poles, damaged some vehicles and rained unspecified materials, some said to be as big as a 50kg cement bag, on rooftops.

Hundreds of people were sent running for cover in all directions. Not few were stunned while others screamed.

Twenty people including eight workers at the factory sustained serious injuries and are being treated at the Serian District Hospital.

A fire department spokesman confirmed this, saying three fire engines from the Serian, Siburan and Tabuan Jaya stations with 20 men rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call from the public at 3.05pm.

When they arrived about five minutes later the building had already collapsed.

Saenie Kaja, 32, who was staying at the upper level living room of the factory, could not help feeling lucky to have survived the incident.

She said she and her three children — sons Justine Feehily (10) and Jayden Beverly (six), daughter Stina Stifferly (four), and niece Jovena Jane Willian (four) barely escape being trapped in the building, which was collapsing as soon as they stepped out of it.

She said if she had listened to someone shouting, telling her to remain in her room with her little charges, they could have died.

“They were all playing in the living room when I heard a commotion at the ground floor.

“But then I saw the fire and there were explosions too, so I quickly gathered the children and ran out,” Saenie recalled.

Saenie said it was a horrible experience as she recalled at least four explosions that shook the walls around her even as the building started to collapse.

Relief came seconds later when she felt someone grabbing her hands and guiding her out. They were the brave fire fighters.

Before Saenie and the four children were rescued, fire fighters had already saved three workers from the ground floor, who were seriously injured.

Liew San Kian, 48, the factory owner, was seen running out of the building and screaming just before the explosion.

Liew’s clerk who was identified only as 42-year-old Lai said when she saw Liew dashing out, it still did not occur to her that she was dicing with death.

She only realised her precarious situation when she heard a loud explosion.

“I didn’t looked back after that. I rushed out until I reached home despite two or three more explosions that shook the ground around me.

“The glass windows of my house were shattered,”

It was understood, however, that Liew actually ran back to the factory to retrieve his pick-up truck even as the explosions occured.

As a result, Liew sustained hearing problem on his left ear.

A friend of his later sent him to the hospital but due to the seriousness of his injury he was referred to Sarawak General Hospital.

The eleven other casualties were those who happened to be near the factory at the time.

The Fire Department is still investigating the exact cause of the explosion.

Meanwhile, Serian district police chief DSP Mohd Jamali Umi, when contacted, confirmed receiving a report of the incident.