KUALA LUMPUR – Twenty-two members of the public were injured after a fireworks storage unit for a Deepavali display exploded in Paya Besar, Kulim, last night.
Kulim District Police Chief Zulkifli Azizan said the incident, which occurred around 12.45 AM, resulted in one victim sustaining serious head injuries from shrapnel. The other casualties suffered minor burns from the sulfur debris.
He explained that the Kulim Police Headquarters’ control room received information from the Head of the Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department (JPJKK), who was conducting a crime prevention patrol. The report mentioned traffic congestion caused by the large crowd in the area.
“The control room then requested assistance from the Motorcycle Patrol Unit (URB) and the Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) unit to manage the traffic jam,” he said.
Upon arrival, the responding units found a crowd gathering at the site, with some people injured due to the explosion of fireworks being set off.
“Two ambulances arrived at the scene and provided initial treatment to one patient who had a head injury, while others had minor burns from sulfur,” he added, as reported by BH.
Crime prevention units also assisted in dispersing the crowd and easing the traffic congestion.
Zulkifli confirmed that police successfully controlled the traffic, and the crowd dispersed after the victims were taken to Kulim Hospital for treatment. However, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident so far.