Sunday 25 November 2012

High-rise water tank ‘explodes’ in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: Residents of the Taman Seri Damai flats in Batu Lanchang here made a quick dash out after a rooftop water tank burst, turning the 16-storey block into a “water theme park” of sorts.

The impact was such that many even thought a bomb had gone off after hearing an “explosion”. As they ran, they were hit by water gushing from above.

Most of the units located on the upper floors of the low-cost flats were affected.

Residents were seen trying frantically to move their electrical appliances and furniture after the incident at 8.40pm on Friday.

Residents committee secretary Shukor Ali, 49, said the water tank had not been replaced for 22 years.

“Luckily no one was injured and the tank did not collapse.

“There were 10 tanks on the rooftop. There have been leakages and only minor repairs were carried out,” he said.

Housewife R. Sarojiah, 45, who lives on the 16th floor just below the water tank, said she and her two children would stay with relatives for fear that the other tanks could also break.

For Nor Mazliana Daud, 20, who will be getting married on Dec 8, the incident was especially heart- breaking.

“Almost half of my barang hantaran (wedding gifts) were destroyed by water,” she said, but vowed to keep her big date.

Batu Lanchang assemblyman Danny Law, who was at the scene, said a mobile toilet had been placed at the apartment's ground floor.

“The entire block is presently without water. Residents will have to fetch water using pails from a pipe located on the ground floor to their units.

“The state government will bear the cost of replacing the water tank and will get water supply restored as soon as possible,” he added.

In another incident, fire gutted a shop which was previously a car wash outlet in Jalan Sungai Pinang.

No one was injured in the incident.

The outlet was believed to have ceased operations about six years ago.
 

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