Johor Bahru:A fire broke out this afternoon in the basement car park of a shopping mall, believed to have involved a four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle. The incident led to rumors on social media linking it to an electric vehicle (EV).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Larkin Fire and Rescue Station received an emergency call at 3:40 pm, with fire engines arriving six minutes later. The operation engaged 52 personnel from the Larkin, Tebrau, and Kempas Fire and Rescue stations, the Ulu Tiram Volunteer Fire Brigade, and the mall's Emergency Response Team (ERT).

The fire affected 11 vehicles, with eight sustaining 80 to 90 percent damage, two suffering 30 to 40 percent damage, and one about 10 percent damage, as reported by Larkin Fire and Rescue Station chief Mohd Suhaimi Abdul Jamal during a press conference.

Four individuals, including a Singaporean, experienced breathing difficulties due to the incident. Only one person required further treatment at Sultanah Aminah Hospital and is in stable condition.

The mall's smoke extraction and fire safety systems facilitated the firefighters' efforts to manage the situation amidst thick smoke. The mall resumed normal operations around 7 pm, though the basement car park remains closed for investigation by the Fire and Rescue Department's Forensics Unit to determine the fire's cause and assess the damages.

Videos and photographs circulated earlier on social media depicted thick smoke emerging from the building while shoppers and workers evacuated the area.