Four Injured In Shopping Mall Blast in Subang (Empire Mall)

SUBANG JAYA: Four people were injured while more than 300 people rescued and evacuated when an explosion occurred at the lower ground floor of the Empire Gallery shopping mall in Subang which houses the food court here early Wednesday.

Firemen assessing the damage from the explosion

Firemen from the Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Department also rescued four other people who were trapped at the lower ground floor of the complex.

The injured, including a Nepali security guard and a local, who sustained cuts caused by falling shattered glass, were sent to the University Malaya Medical Centre (PPUM) for treatment.


In the 3.45am gas-piping explosion, the blast damaged two other floors in the complex. It also caused damages to the adjoining office block and studio apartment.

The scene at the Empire Shopping complex Wednesday morning.

Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Department station chief Mohd Khairi Daud said they were assisted by their colleagues from PJ and surrounding areas in evacuating the hotel guests, numbering more than 300 people.


The damage to the lower and ground floor of the mall was caused by the impact of the explosion rather than fire, said Selangor Fire and Rescue Department deputy director of operations Mohd Sani Harul.


“The first fire engine arrived at the scene took only about five minutes to put out the fire in some areas,” he said.


Mohd Sani said inspectors from the Public Works Department (JKR) and civil construction consultants had examined the pillars and structures of the building to determine how extensive the blast had damaged the mall.


*Article taken from The Star*
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/9/28/nation/20110928082918&sec=nation