Saiful Ambar Abdullah Ambar, special officer to the home minister, said the five comprised a girl, a woman and three men.

“Based on information received, there are altogether 22 victims. We will try to trace the others who have returned home after receiving treatment,” Bernama reported him as saying after visiting the victims at Kulim Hospital today.

Saiful said others may have sought treatment on their own at clinics for minor injuries.

“We will try to assist those affected. As for the blast, I think it is best to wait for the investigation report from the authorities,” he said.

One of the victims, Nurzaina Ismail, 47, said she and her family had gone to observe the Deepavali celebrations as they live nearby.

“During the height of the celebrations, they were lighting fireworks. Suddenly, I felt pain and heat in my abdomen and legs, and realised I was injured.

“I couldn’t walk and my children sent me to the hospital,” she said.

R Pasupathi, 74, said he was passing through the area some 50m away when he was hit by fragments from the fireworks.

“I heard an explosion and felt pain when the fragments hit my hand,” he said.