PETALING JAYA, Dec 11 — A deadly fire at a shophouse in Jelapang, Ipoh, today has claimed six lives.

According to Harian Metro, the Meru Raya Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at 1.55pm about the fire at the two-storey building in Puncak Jelapang Maju industrial area.

"Six victims have been confirmed dead. Efforts are ongoing to extinguish the fire,” the news portal reported a rescue department spokesperson saying.

National news agency Bernama reported separately that the shophouse was already 40 per cent burnt when a team of firemen arrived at the scene.

Jelapang assemblyman Cheah Pou Hian confirmed to Bernama that all victims were locals.

Cheah said he was informed by the public that a loud explosion was heard just before the fire broke out.

The brother to one of the victims told the Astro Awani news portal that he rushed to scene the after hearing the explosion.

"When I arrived, the victims were screaming for help but I couldn’t do anything as the fire was only getting bigger. I knew all of them, they were in their 20s,” the security guard was quoted as saying in the Astro Awani report.

According to Bernama, a signboard at the premises said it housed an event management business that also supplied equipment such as canopies, public address systems, and lighting.