A 57-year-old Singaporean woman was among four people who experienced breathing difficulties after a fire broke out at the basement carpark of Johor Bahru City Square mall on Tuesday (Oct 6).
The blaze started at about 3.40pm on Basement 2 of the shopping centre along Jalan Wong Ah Fook, sending thick black smoke through the carpark and prompting shoppers and workers to evacuate. Firefighters later said the fire was believed to have involved a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The incident initially sparked speculation on social media that an electric vehicle (EV) may have started the fire. However, Malaysia’s Fire and Rescue Department said preliminary findings pointed instead to a 4WD vehicle. The exact cause remains under investigation.
Four People Suffer Breathing Difficulties
Johor Fire and Rescue Department officials initially reported that three women suffered breathing difficulties after inhaling smoke.
The victims were identified as women aged 35, 48 and 57, with the 57-year-old being Singaporean. Firefighters provided initial treatment at the scene, while the 48-year-old woman was taken to Sultanah Aminah Hospital for further treatment.
A subsequent update from Bernama said four people, including a Singaporean, experienced breathing difficulties. Only one person was taken to hospital and was reported to be in stable condition.
The changing victim count reflects updates issued as authorities assessed the incident and its aftermath.
Fire Spread to Multiple Vehicles
The fire began with a vehicle in the underground carpark before spreading to nearby vehicles.
According to the latest information from the Johor Fire and Rescue Department, 11 vehicles were affected. Eight sustained damage estimated at 80 to 90 per cent, two suffered around 30 to 40 per cent damage, while another sustained about 10 per cent damage.
Earlier reports had put the number of damaged vehicles at 10, before authorities provided the updated figure of 11.
Firefighters used hose lines connected to the building’s fire-protection system and fire-engine pumps to contain the blaze. The mall’s smoke-extraction and fire-safety systems also helped emergency crews operate in the smoke-filled carpark.
Thick Smoke Forces Evacuation
Videos and photographs shared online showed thick black smoke pouring from the shopping centre as people moved away from the building.
Mall workers and shoppers were seen evacuating to open areas outside the complex while emergency crews dealt with the fire.
The shopping centre was temporarily closed during the emergency response.
Firefighters also carried out a search of the affected parking area to ensure that no one remained trapped inside. The operation was eventually completed at about 8.37pm, according to the latest report from The Straits Times.
The mall subsequently resumed normal operations at around 7pm, although the affected basement carpark remained closed for further investigation.
52 Personnel Involved in Firefighting Operation
The emergency response involved personnel from several fire and rescue stations, volunteer firefighters and the mall’s own emergency response team.
Bernama reported that 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 were involved.
Earlier in the operation, 26 firefighters from the Larkin and Tebrau stations had been deployed after the emergency call was received at 3.40pm. Fire engines reached the scene about six minutes later.
The response included fire rescue tenders and emergency medical rescue services.
EV Speculation Rejected
The fire quickly generated online speculation that an EV may have been involved.
However, the Fire and Rescue Department has said the vehicle believed to have started the blaze was a 4WD, not an EV. Authorities have not yet determined the precise cause of the fire.
The clarification is significant because fires involving electric vehicles can attract particular attention due to the challenges associated with lithium-ion battery fires.
But in this case, there is currently no basis for claiming that an EV caused the incident.
The fire department’s preliminary assessment points to a 4WD vehicle, while investigators continue to determine how the fire began and why it spread to surrounding vehicles.
Carpark Remains Closed for Investigation
The basement carpark remains closed while the Fire and Rescue Department’s Forensics Unit examines the scene and assesses the extent of the losses.
Authorities have not yet released a final estimate of the property and vehicle damage, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
JB City Square is a major shopping destination in central Johor Bahru and is connected to the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex by an overhead bridge, making it particularly popular with Singaporean visitors.
For now, authorities have confirmed that the fire caused significant damage to vehicles and left several people suffering from smoke-related breathing difficulties, but there have been no reports of deaths.
The investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing.
