Tanker catches fires, causes massive jam on DUKE highway

A lorry tanker transporting palm oil caught fire causing a massive three kilometre long traffic jam on the Damansara-Ulu Klang (DUKE) highway on Thursday.

The incident took place at KM 3.9 of the highway heading towards Damansara close to the Jalan Duta Toll Plaza where commuters had to be diverted to an alternative route.

Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue operations assistant director Azizan Ismail said, they received a distress call at approximately 1.30pm and firemen arrived 20 minutes later to the scene.

“When we arrived at the scene, the lorry tanker was engulfed in flames. We were forced to use spray foam to control the oil spill and the fire from spreading further.” Azizan said.

42 firemen and seven fire engines were dispatched from the Setapak, Sri Hartamas, Jalan Hang Tuah, Gombak Selatan, Sentul and Jinjang fire stations.

“The lorry was on its way from Temerloh to Klang and we believe it had experienced mechanical problems involving its breaking system which had caused the fire,” Azizan said.

No casualties have been reported and the fire was brought under control at 2.44pm.