Kenderaan 4×4 dipercayai punca kebakaran di parkir pusat beli-belah, kata bomba

A Jeep Cherokee four-wheel drive vehicle is suspected to be the cause of a fire at a two-story shopping mall in Johor Bahru, according to the head of the Larkin Fire and Rescue Brigade, Mohd Suhaimi Abdul Jamal. The incident occurred around 3:40 pm yesterday, with fire trucks arriving at the scene six minutes later. A total of 52 members from Larkin, Tebrau, Kempas, and the Ulu Tiram Volunteer Fire Brigade, along with the mall's Emergency Response Team, responded to the fire.

Of the 11 vehicles involved, eight suffered significant damage, estimated between 80 to 90%, while two were partially damaged, between 30 to 40%, and one sustained minimal damage, around 10%. Speaking at a press conference at the scene today, Mohd Suhaimi reported that the mall resumed operations about 7 pm after being closed temporarily following the fire.

Four individuals, including a Singaporean citizen, experienced respiratory failure, but Mohd Suhaimi stated that one casualty was sent to Sultanah Aminah Hospital for further treatment and is currently stable. The affected underground parking area remains closed to allow the Forensic Unit to conduct an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and estimate the extent of the losses.

Previously, videos and photos circulating on social media showed thick smoke emerging from the building, and visitors and staff were seen fleeing the premises.