BINTULU: BINTULU: A 31-year-old man was burnt to death when a petroleum tanker lorry caught fire and exploded at a traffic light junction in Jalan Kidurong here today.
The victim, identified as Martin Joshua, who was found trapped under one of the six vehicles destroyed in the blaze, in the 12.10pm incident.
Authorities said initial investigations showed that the tanker lorry, travelling to Tanjung Batu from Kidurong, was speeding.
The vehicle skidded when it made a turn at the area and smashed into a road divider before catching fire and exploded.
Five cars and a motorcycle, which were nearby, were gutted in the incident.
State Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director Tiong Ling Hii said 10 men in two fire engines were deployed to the scene to control the fire and provide assistance to the victims.
"The victim (who was burnt to death) was found under a Toyota Fortuner near the tanker lorry.
"Our men are on the ground to obtain more details and check if there are other victims killed or injured." he said.
Images of thick black smoke billowing from the scene of the incident have been circulating among netizens on various social media platforms.
Among the viral images is a picture of a man, believed to be a victim, trapped under a vehicle and trying to free himself.