close [x]
|
LEAD: Blast at Malaysian chemical plant kills 3+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)KUALA LUMPUR, March 1_(Kyodo) _ (EDS: UPDATING DEATH TOLL)An explosion in a chemical plant belonging to an affiliate company of Japan's Kao Corp. has killed three Malaysians and injured one, local media reported Wednesday. According to The Star daily, the victims were maintenance workers contracted by Fatty Chemical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. to clean the 30-cubic-meter methanol tank which exploded just before noon on Tuesday, sparking a fire. Fatty Chemical is a joint venture company between Kao and one of Malaysia's largest oleochemical companies, IOI Group Bhd. The plant, located in the northern state of Penang, is touted as the world's largest producer of fatty alcohol and refined glycerine used in Kao's many toiletry products.
According to a statement from Fatty Chemical managing director Mikio Takagi, the 15-year-old factory had been shut down for its annual maintenance service since Feb. 18 and had been scheduled to resume operations on March 19 when the accident happened. "The flames were brought under control and put out within 20 minutes by an in-house emergency response team which was later assisted by Hazmat (Hazardous Material Response Team) from the Fire and Rescue Department," The Sun newspaper quoted him as saying in the statement. The Star quoted unnamed sources as saying the explosion may have occurred because the methanol tank was not emptied properly before maintenance work was carried out. The official news agency Bernama reported late Tuesday that the two killed were welding a gas pipe and probably were unaware of a leak in the pipe as sparks from the welding set caused the explosion, felt a kilometer away. Two died on the site while one, who suffered 80 percent burns, died early Wednesday in hospital, Bernama said. A fellow colleague suffered only minor injuries. The plant has 300 workers but the four victims were employees of another Japanese company, Sankyu (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., which is owned by Tokyo-based Sankyu Inc. [ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ] |
| |
|
|
|
NEW Top 10 Bene ts of the Broadvox
VAR Partner Program: Competitive Compensation
With residuals of up to 25%, Partners have the
ability to transform customer contracts with limited
nancial potential into ongoing service contracts,
turning existing customers into new pro t centers ...