Bukit Rambai: An electronic waste and electric vehicle (EV) battery collection plant in the Bukit Rambai Industrial Area was destroyed in a fire here today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Melaka Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) reported that the factory caught fire at about 12.50 pm, with no casualties reported. Thirty firefighters from five stations-Tangga Batu, Cheng, Melaka Tengah, Ayer Keroh, and Alor Gajah-were involved in extinguishing the blaze.

The statement from JBPM indicated that they received a distress call at around 12.51 pm. In response, a Fire Rescue Tender (FRT) vehicle, a water tanker, and seven personnel from Tangga Batu were dispatched to the scene. Additional assistance came from four other fire stations, which provided three FRTs, one water tanker, one Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) unit, one Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) vehicle, and a Hazardous and Toxic Materials (Hazmat) team.

Upon arrival of the first fire engine at around 12.56 pm, approximately 90 percent of the premises had been engulfed in flames. As of 5 pm, firefighting efforts were still ongoing.

Senior state executive councillor for Housing, Local Government, Climate Change, Drainage and Disaster Management, Datuk Rais Yasin, shared on Facebook that he had directed the relevant authorities, including the Department of Environment, to conduct a thorough inspection of the plant, including its operating licence. He emphasized the need to ensure that the plant was operating legally, following safety procedures, and complying with the stipulated regulations.