Debris impact: Cars parked below the building which housed the office were damaged by falling debris.
Three goldsmiths and a female Vietnamese worker were injured in a blast at a gold processing centre in Menara Perdana along Jalan Gurdwara here.
Low Eng Tak, who sustained serious head injuries and 60% burns to his body, is being warded at the intensive care unit of a private hospital.
Ng Chun Keat received outpatient treatment while Tan Kean Hwang was admitted to another private hospital.
All three are 28-year-olds.
The female worker, in her 20s, suffered light injuries and has been warded at the Penang Hospital.
Many onlookers gathered outside the building when the blast was heard at 1.15pm yesterday on the eighth floor where the Chew Seng Goldsmiths Sdn Bhd office is located.
Several cars parked below were damaged as debris fell due to the impact.
George Town OCPD Asst Comm Gan Kong Meng said the blast was believed to have originated from the cooking area where the victims were processing gold.
A liquefied petroleum gas cylinder had leaked before catching fire and exploding.
ACP Gan said losses were estimated at RM2mil.
“We are still waiting for the forensic and chemical reports to ascertain what transpired,” he added.
Perak Road fire station chief Yamin Tekor said they found six liquefied petroleum gas cylinders at the site.
He said four fire engines with 19 firemen were dispatched to the scene.
A motorist, known only as Lim, said he was passing by when he heard a loud sound.
“I stopped at the roadside to see what had happened and saw black smoke billowing from the building.
“I s aw many people rushing out just as the fire engines arrived,” he said.
Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik said the company was registered and was operating legally.
