Two Held Over Deadly Helium Cylinder Blast In Sungai Petani

SUNGAI PETANI, May 21 (Bernama) -- Two men in their 20s and 40s have been detained to assist investigations into a helium gas cylinder explosion at an expo site, which claimed the life of a trader near a supermarket here today. 

Kuala Muda district police chief ACP Hanyan Ramlan said investigations are still in the early stages to determine the cause of the incident and the police are also working to identify the owner of the helium gas cylinder. 

He said the site will be temporarily closed to allow investigations to be carried out. 

“We are conducting investigations at the scene, so we ask all traders to temporarily cease operations. Once completed, we will hand the site back to the organiser to continue the event,” he said in a press conference here tonight. 

At the same time, Hanyan also urged visitors who sustained injuries to come forward and report to the authorities.

Elaborating further, Hanyan said the explosion caused debris to be flung as far as 100 metres, striking several victims. 

“Some of the fragments were hurled up to 100 metres from the cylinder and struck a Malay man who was operating a business nearby.

“The victim sustained severe injuries to his right arm and the right side of his chest and was pronounced dead at the scene,” he said. 

He said the case is being investigated as a sudden death report (SDR) and under Section 304A of the Penal Code. 

Earlier, it was reported that a man was killed while three others were injured in the explosion involving a helium gas cylinder at the expo site near a supermarket here.

The deceased was identified as Azmi Ahmad, 42, while the identities of the injured have yet to be confirmed. 

Meanwhile, Sungai Petani Fire and Rescue Station chief and operations commander, Senior Fire Superintendent II Siti Norafiza Mohd Noh said the injured victims included a 15-year-old boy and two men aged 36 and 49. 

-- BERNAMA