KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 — A fire occurred at a police evidence storage yard believed to be housing seized contrabands including fireworks in Sentul here, with eyewitnesses reporting explosions from a building within the compound.

Footage circulating on social media also showed thick smoke billowing from the building’s vicinity.

Earlier today, Sentul police had invited members of the media to the yard to observe the disposal of over RM4.17 million worth of fireworks seized last month.

According to a statement issued by the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department, an emergency call was made at 6.22pm before firefighters arrived at the scene some ten minutes later at 6.32pm.

"The blaze involved an evidence storage area whereby 30 per cent of the compound building structure and 80 per cent of an open area involving 50 vehicles were destroyed by the fire,” the statement reads.

The blaze was later successfully extinguished around 7.02pm with the combined effort of personnel from five different Fire and Rescue Departments.

No casualties were reported but three men — who suffered light lacerations — were sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for medical treatment.

Sentul police chief Assistant Commissioner Beh Eng Lai confirmed the incident, adding that three men suffered minor injuries to their torso.

In a brief media statement later, Beh said the standard operating procedures involving the disposal of seized contrabands were in accordance with the Court Order issued.

"To inform, the seized items were disposed of by flattening them with a steamroller and soaking them in water before they are buried,” he said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.