[UPDATED] Sprawling blaze causes frightening smoke column on KL skyline

KUALA LUMPUR – A massive fire decimated the warehouse of an automotive car parts dealer in Jalan Kg Pasir, Segambut this evening.

Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Operations commander Muhamad Ridhwan Kamarulzaman said the incident which went viral on social media had completely destroyed around 90% of the Suzuka Auto Parts warehouse, which stored half cut cars and other auto parts.

The fire, which involved a store selling used replacement parts (half cut) measuring 40x100 feet, was 90% destroyed,” he said in a statement.

He said 83 firemen from eight stations were dispatched to the scene after the department received a distress call at 5.50pm.

“The Jinjang Fire and Rescue Station was assisted by the Sentul, Sri Hartamas, Hang Tuah, Titiwangsa, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Wangsa Maju and Seputih stations,” he said.

Ridhwan said the teams that battled the fire were split according to sections to contain the blaze.

He said the department was still making efforts to douse the fire at press time, adding that there were no casualties reported so far.

Earlier, it was reported that a gigantic column of black smoke rose over the Kuala Lumpur skyline startling people across the capital city today, as initial speculations swirled of a blaze or explosion around the busy Jalan Kuching area.

The mushroom cloud could be seen rising hundreds of metres into the air till it touched the clouds in the sky at about 6pm.

The Transportation Management Centre (ITIS) under Kuala Lumpur City Hall announced in a tweet that a shop near the DUKE exit heading towards Selayang had caught fire. It added that police are at the scene. 

Jalan Kuching : Kebakaran kedai berhampiran susur DUKE menghala ke Selayang. Polis di lokasi. Trafik perlahan. #KLTU pic.twitter.com/zkTtcqQByy

— ITIS DBKL (@ITIS_TRAFIK) November 23, 2021

Twitter user@NogyMustafa posted a video of the fire taken from a moving car at ground level.

The blaze appears to be covering a large land area on a complex.

Kebakaran terbesar..my sister just lalu sini..Omg scary yer..laluan ke tol jln duta ? pic.twitter.com/qbp6TIeIX0

— NogyTyco (@NogyMustafa) November 23, 2021

Various people reacted with anxiety at the scene of the mammoth smoke. 

UPDATE

It is understood that the fire and rescue department is currently at the scene of the incident.

? Social media pic.twitter.com/RoBTrx2vVS

— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) November 23, 2021

@zukhviri shared a video clip of the incident with a bird’s eye view from his apartment. He said that he could still see the explosions taking place there.

Mcm ada kebakaran besar kat jln kuching. pic.twitter.com/4o3A0FCeQU

— ZUKHAIRI #teamkental (@zukhviri) November 23, 2021

“A fire in a car workshop,” said user @AdilaNikky, who had attached a video showing the thick plume of smoke rising to the sky. – The Vibes, November 23, 2021

Kebakaran di bengkel kereta potong. pic.twitter.com/DKol6qhLax

— ????? ???????? (@AdilaNikky) November 23, 2021