Taiwanese woman injured in KKIP warehouse fire
Published on: Sunday, March 17, 2024
By: Jimmy Goh
Firemen fighting the warehouse fire at KKIP.
Kota Kinabalu: A Taiwanese woman sustained injuries when fire destroyed a warehouse at Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) storing styrofoam lunch boxes, Saturday. Also destroyed were a Myvi, a Proton Waja and two four-tonne lorries.
Thai Chin Hui, in her 50s, suffered minor injuries to her legs and face. She and her Taiwanese husband, Wu Fu-Wen, operated Gesen Packing Sdn Bhd on a six-acre property.
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They stayed in an office cum residence next to the warehouse, along with their adult son.
Warehouse supervisor Edward Sieh said the company had been producing styrofoam boxes as well as dried noodles for over 20 years. It began its operations in Kolombong before moving to KKIP in 2004.
“The company has 110 workers and the fire occurred in a 24,000-square-foot warehouse where the polystyrene stocks are stored. Also damaged were packing equipment. Total loss is estimated at RM8 million,” he said.
Damasus, a factory worker, who had worked for the company for 18 years, lost his Myvi in the fire which occurred around 3.20am.
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“I am employed as a driver for the company, responsible for delivering goods to various districts across Sabah. I normally park my Myvi near the warehouse at night since I live nearby,” said the Kota Belud native.
Indonesian workers, Octobian and Matabal, were in the middle of their 3am break when they suddenly saw flames emerging from the warehouse on the next block.
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“At that time, there were five of us on duty. We would normally take turns to rest.
“The fire occurred during their designated rest period, pointing out that their shift would end at 8am,” they said.
Firefighters swiftly responded to the scene after receiving a distress call and brought the fire under control at 4.44am and ended the operations at 8.13am.
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