Between the Butane Spheres and the Burning Tanks

The Petronas Dagangan petrol tank at Johor Port went ablaze after it was struck by lightning on the evening of April 28. Fire is a fascinating thing, I believe. People lined the closed down roads and walked up as close as they can to get the best view of the blaze as it licked the three petrol tanks. Smoke billowed, in the drizzling weather and smell of burnt rubber filled the air. Fear and fascination were written on the faces of the onlookers.

One of them said, "the butane spheres are very close. If the fire reaches the sphere, the whole Pasir Gudang and Permas Jaya would go up in flames."

Another said, "There are underground pipes loaded with flamable liquids linking Johor Port to Sembawang. If the fire reaches the sphere, the pipes would go all the way to Singapore."

How did they know? "Oh we have fire drills every year. The Firemen told us." Small wonder half of the residents at Kampung Pasir Puteh and Taman air Biru left their home helter skelter that night.

A week after the fire, the secretary of Pasir Gudang Local Authority said," oh there's no need to evacuate. The fire was under control. We didn't want to create panic. My handphone battery konged out, so I couldn't inform the relevant authorities to inform the people. They don't need to worry anyway."

Now, who actually cares if the butane spheres went up in flames? Only those, about 130,000 population of Pasir Gudang whose only access out of the town is the two lanes potholed highway.

Note: Some said it was the wrath of God on the 30 sen a litre petrol price hike.