Malaysian oil plant blast injures 12 people

Malaysian oil plant blast injures 12 people

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Twelve people, including four employees, were injured when a gas plant belonging to oil giant Shell exploded in the town of Bintulu late Thursday night, a company official said yesterday.

"Ten people have been discharged but two are still in hospital for observation," Masari Allision, Shell's local human resources senior manager, told AFP.

He said the two had cuts but no burns. The explosion at the plant in Sarawak, East Malaysia, occurred at 10:50 p.m. (9:50 a.m. Jakarta time).

Masari said a fire at the plant involving two tanks with gas oil and kerosene was still burning, but had been brought under control by the local fire department with help from other oil plants nearby.

"About 150 firefighters, including those from Shell, are fighting the blaze," he said.

"Firemen are spraying foam on the two tanks to control the fire while other nearby tanks are being cooled to prevent any explosion."

Shell in a statement earlier said four employees of Shell Middle Distillate Synthesis (SMDS) were injured, while eight members of the public in an industrial and military complex outside the plant had sought treatment.

An investigation is underway into the cause of the explosion, Shell added.