Three more schools closed due to toxic smoke from Kulai rubber factory fire, bringing total to five as firefighting operations continue.

KULAI: Three more schools have been ordered to close immediately due to a persistent fire at a rubber-processing factory.

The blaze at the Sengkang industrial area has been burning since Tuesday, prompting the latest closures of SK Taman Kota Kulai, SK Taman Kota Kulai 2 and Sekolah Agama Taman Kota Kulai.

This brings the total number of impacted schools to five, according to Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.

The Kulai District Education Office confirmed all pupils from the affected schools will switch to home-based learning until Friday.

“As of early this morning, flames are still active, and firefighting operation is currently in progress,” Teo said in a Facebook post.

Two other schools, SJKC Sengkang and SJKC Kulai Besar, were closed yesterday, affecting 1,531 pupils who also moved to home-based learning.

The Fire and Rescue Department received the emergency call at 4.37 pm on Tuesday regarding the blaze at a large semi-permanent plastic storage facility.

As of this morning, the 34-member firefighting operation was reported to be 90% complete.

The effort has been reinforced by 11 additional personnel, with industry players supplying foam to aid the battle.

Four excavators are being used to remove debris to help firefighters reach flames beneath material piles.

The Johor Fire and Rescue Department’s drone unit is also conducting thermal imaging surveillance to detect residual heat sources.

 The Sun Malaysia