Two internet cafe workers suffered severe burns on the body when a homemade bomb exploded outside their employer's unit at the Desa Tun Razak Apartments in Cheras here today.

The explosion sent the 38-year-old man and the 51-year-old woman writhing in pain as it shattered the apartment unit's window panes and those of four other units.

The duo were warded at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital in a serious condition.

Meanwhile, Star has reported that Ng Siew Hong, the woman who suffered 90 percent burns from the explosion, has since passed away while in hospital.

Earlier, the workers were asked by their employer's wife to remove a cardboard box found outside the couple's 12th floor apartment unit before it exploded about 8.30am.

Cheras police deputy chief Superintendent Abdul Rahim Hamzah Othman said the police found traces of ball-shaped firecrackers and kerosene at the scene of the explosion.

He said the box was found by the employer's wife when she opened the door to her apartment.

"She found two pomeloes placed on top of the box. She asked her husband about the box and pomeloes but he replied he knew nothing about them. The couple then asked their neighbours who replied in the negative.

"When the housewife opened part of the box, a smell of kerosene emanated. She then asked the two workers from the couple's internet cafe located on the ground floor of the apartment block, to remove the box," he said.

Abdul Rahim said the police were investigating whether the incident was linked to revenge or mischief. They have ruled out terrorism as a motive.

- Bernama