Four injured in shopping mall-Empire in Subang

[bimmerholic]

SUBANG JAYA: Four people were injured while more than 300 people rescued and evacuated when an explosion occurred at the lower ground floor of the Empire Gallery shopping mall in Subang which houses the food court here early Wednesday.

Firemen assessing the damage from the explosion.Firemen from the Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Department also rescued four other people who were trapped at the lower ground floor of the complex.The injured, including a Nepali security guard and a local, who sustained cuts caused by falling shattered glass, were sent to the hospital for treatment.In the 3.45am gas-piping explosion, the blast damaged two other floors in the complex. It also caused damages to the adjoining office block and studio apartment.

The scene at the Empire Shopping complex Wednesday morning.Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Department station chief Mohd Khairi Daud said firemen from Subang Jaya were assisted by their colleagues from PJ and surrounding areas in evacuating the hotel guests, numbering more than 300 people.Firemen are now checking the structure of the building to ensure its safety.'source:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/9/28/nation/20110928082918&sec=nation

 

[bimmerholic]

See the black GTI in the pic above, the story below is from the owner himself.

The couple, sales executives Daryl Chua, 27, and his girlfriend Hibbie Tan, 23, were taken to hospital in an ambulance but have since been discharged.
Nearly the entire stretch of the front portion of the newly built mall have been blown out, damaging a number of cafes, restaurants and clothing stores including Tangs and Starbucks Coffee.

Chua told reporters that he was walking with his girlfriend to an Autopay station a few steps from Starbucks when the explosion occurred about 3.30am.

“We were at La Bodega earlier for dinner and then we were just hanging out outside my car and talking," he said.

“Just as we were heading to the Autopay, there was a loud ‘boom’, like in the movies. I thought it was a bomb.”

Chua said he was “literally lifted off the ground” and thrown sideways several meters from the blast, lightly grazing both his arms.

The sound of breaking glass, falling debris and metal and sirens broke the earlier silence, he said, leaving him in a momentary state of confusion and panic.

“And then the flames came up. It was all over, the entire front of the mall was razed. I thought I was going to die,” he said.

When the scene calmed slightly, Chua said he carried Tan, who had sprained her leg, to safety and noticed passers-by and nearby residents rushing to the scene.

His car, a black Volkswagen Golf GTI, was severely damaged.

source:http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/explosion-rips-through-empire-gallery-four-hurt/

 

[Eggie86]

Ahh, no wonder there were dark blue cops putting cones near the back road behind Subang Parade and Carrefour, not allowing motorists to turn left into that road. Was there making a u turn around 9am when I noticed the cops cordoning off the lane. Thanks for sharing the news bro.

 

[ramsing]

err...what was he doing outside the mall at 3.30am? maybe was fighting with gf? then he said, to show my love to you, i'm going to ka-boom the mall!!! this is for you honeeyyyy.......boom. just joking.

but luckily no one was hurt. glad our bomba was quick to save the building......

 

[bimmerholic]

I was parked in front of Empire around 11pm and left Subang around 2pm. Luckily there wasn't any drama then. Phew!!!

 

[B33mEr]

Glad there is no casualty ...

I wonder if the insurance will write off or repair the GTi ... Honestly i would rather have the insurance write off the car

 

[Eggie86]

Found this shot on fb....