MIRI: The driver and his co-driver escaped unhurt after the 10-wheeler truck that they were travelling in caught fire on Wednesday (June 22) near the Sepupok junction in Batu Niah.
Prior to the incident, the truck was heading to Batu Niah from Sibu with 200 bags of 25kg fertilizer and 250 bags of rodenticide.
“When we reached the area, one of the rear tyres (left side) suddenly caught fire,” related the truck driver, who only gave his name as Walter.
He added that prior to the incident, several vehicles that had passed them or were behind them had indicated that something was wrong.
“At first, I thought that they wanted to overtake, so I gave way, until I reached Sepupok, then I realised something was not right with the tyres because my co-driver and I had saw a huge fire coming out from one of the rear tyres.”
Walter said he immediately pulled over and grabbed a fire extinguisher inside the truck.
Fortunately, both were unharmed in the 9am incident.
Meanwhile, five firefighters from the Batu Niah station were deployed to the scene upon receiving a distress call at 9.07am. The operation ended at 10.15am.
