By DayakDaily Team
BINTULU, Sept 10: A fire broke out following a leak during molten aluminium processing at a factory in Samalaju Industrial Park here last night (Sept 9).
According to a report by Sarawak Fire and Bomba Department (Bomba), they received the distress call around 11.50pm before despatching teams from Samalaju and Bintulu Fire Stations (BBPs) to the scene.
For the record, the spill of molten aluminium cannot be contained with water due to the extreme heat of the aluminium as water upon contact with the aluminium would turn to steam straight away and create bigger problems.
However, there was rain at that time of the incident which led to an explosion, destroying 10 per cent of the building involving a size of 120x60x120 feet per square.
Nevertheless, the authorities have instructed all workers to evacuate the area.
Following the advice from hazardous material experts and on-site technicians, the firefighters had to wait for the molten aluminium to cool down by itself especially during the rain.
It took the firefighters several hours before they could disperse alumina powder to extinguish and control the fire.
At 6.20am, Bomba reported that the fire was fully put out. — DayakDaily
