Business and transportation hub Kuala Lumpur Sentral was enveloped in a thick cloud of smoke when a fire broke out at the abandoned Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) clubhouse located along Jalan Tun Sambanthan today.

The hour-long blaze, which started at about 11am, attracted a large crowd of curious onlookers and brought traffic in the vicinity to a standstill.

Many of the onlookers were drawn to the scene by a loud explosion which could be heard some 2km away and billowing smoke.

Jalan Hang Tuah Fire and Rescue Department operations officer P Visvanathan said the department received a distress call at about 11.30am. Following this, two fire engines with 15 firefighters were despatched to the scene.

Visvanathan said the blaze was brought under control within five minutes. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

A local resident said the single-storey wooden clubhouse had turned into a drug addicts haunt after it was closed down several years ago.

Kuala Lumpur Sentral is a 28.8-hectare district encircled by major roads and planned for office, hotel, retail and residential developments.

It is a transportation hub which incorporates commuter, intercity and airport express rail networks with the citys light rail transit system.