A massive explosion which involved tens of cooking gas cylinders and caused injuries to three foreign workers in a building in Taman Cengal in Kulim, Kedah, early today uncovered a syndicate involved in transferring cooking gas for domestic use into industrial gas cylinders.

Kulim Fire and Rescue Department chief Mohd Firdaus Daud said they had suspected that an illegal activity was taking place at the building as there was no electricity supply and that the building was always closed during the day, but came alive at night.

"Furthermore, there are traces of the activity and the equipment used by the syndicate to transfer the cooking gas.

"We also found various sizes of gas cylinders in the building. The owner of the building, however, has yet to be identified," he said when contacted.

Residents in hundreds of houses in nearby residential areas, including Taman Kempas and Taman Desa Impian, also felt the tremor from the 3am explosion.

The injured workers suffered severe burns on their bodies and are being treated at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar.

"A total of 33 firemen, including 18 from Kulim and Hi-Tech Park, together with 15 volunteer firemen, took almost an hour to put out the fire," he said.

Mohd Firdaus they had to take extra care while putting out the blaze as there were may other cylinders containing cooking gas in the building.

- Bernama