November 04, 2009 13:17 PM

School Block Destroyed By Fire That Broke Out Twice

PASIR PUTEH, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- A block of building that housed two classrooms and a science laboratory at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kamil (SMKK) here was gutted by fire that broke out twice.

Officer-in-charge of the Pasir Puteh Fire and Rescue station, Kaharuddin Yahya, said the first incident occurred at 6pm yesterday and the second at 2am today.

"The second fire incident (after the first was brought under control) might be due to the chemicals coming into contact with water or due to the heat, hence the explosion and another fire outbreak," he said when contacted here on Wednesday.

The explosion shocked residents in the vicinity and the students who were asleep in their hostels more than 50 metres away from the block.

Kaharuddin said nine firemen led by him managed to prevent the fire from spreading to the other parts of the school.

The fire is being investigated and loss is estimated at RM500,000 to RM600,000.  

The gutted block is one of five buildings of the school, one of the oldest and well-known in Kelantan. Its former students include former AirAsia chairman Datuk Pahamin Rejab, Education Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Zulkurnain Awang and former Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka director-general Datuk Abdul Aziz Deraman.

-- BERNAMA

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