Three die, one severely injured in explosion in Gurun

Three family members died while another was critically injured in an explosion at a house in Taman Ria Mesra, Gurun, near here, today.

The explosion which occurred at about 4.50pm killed an army personnel known as Ayob, who was in his thirties, his eight-year-old daughter Nor Hidayu Shahirah Ayob, and five-year-old son Mohamad Idham Shahmi.

Ayob's wife, known as Sharifah Haslinda, 37, was severely injured.

Kedah Fire and Rescue Department director Ahmad Shahabuddin said although the explosion was believed by some to be caused by a gas cylinder, his department did not dismiss the possibility that it could have been caused by an explosive.

"This is based on the observation of the impact of the explosion by the firemen while dousing the fire and checking the scene of the incident upon arriving at the victims' house.

"While we were conducting the inspection, we detected a very powerful impact, especially judging from the holes in the walls of the house that could only be caused by an explosive, and not by an exploded cooking gas cyclinder as claimed," he said when met at the location.

He said his team was still investigating and would enlist the help of the police bomb squad to examine the scene as they were worried that there could be more explosives at the house.

Ahmad said his team received a call at 4.57pm and three fire-engines with 14 officers and firemen from the Guar Chempedak, Yan and Sungai Petani Fire and Rescue stations were dispatched to the scene, with the first arriving at 5.13pm.

The explosion also caused damage to at least eight houses nearby as well as two cars.

The bodies of the victims and those injured were taken to Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital in Sungai Petani.

Meanwhile, Kedah CID chief ACP Nasir Ya who confirmed the incident said the army personnel is believed to have kept the grenade in his house.

"The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code," he added.