'Reuters' evacuates staff from Petronas

'Reuters' evacuates staff from Petronas

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Staff evacuated the Reuters office in the world's tallest building in Malaysia's capital on Monday after fire broke out near a service elevator.

Nine staff members left the 32nd floor of the 88-storey Petronas Tower Two at 8:30 p.m. (1230 GMT) after smoke began filling a corridor outside the office.

A lighter and paint thinner were found near charred newspaper outside the service elevator at the rear of the office. A local fire officer told Reuters that the fire appeared to be arson.

Police were called to investigate, and building fire staff put out the fire. Damage was minimal and nobody was injured.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday attended the official opening of the new Reuters office in Petronas Tower Two. The twin towers in the heart of the capital stand 452 meters (1,482 feet) high.