JOHOR BARU: A fire which broke out on the second floor of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Hospital Sultanah Aminah here has killed at least six patients and triggered the evacuation of hundreds of others at about 9am today.
Johor Baru Selatan district police chief assistant commissioner Sulaiman Salleh said so far, six bodies have been recovered from the site.
"All six were patients. So far, six bodies have been accounted for as victims of the fire.
"They were believed to be trapped in the building," he told reporters at the scene.
Firemen are still at the location trying to control the fire, which has largely simmered down, although thick smoke is still streaming out of the building’s windows.
About 13 patients in the ICU had to be carried out of the building via staircases in the main building, as use of the hospital’s elevators was discouraged.
The maternity ward, located next to the ICU and other wards, was also evacuated and patients were seen being led away from the building.
Patients and staff gathered in the compound of a nearby polyclinic, as well as other parts of the hospital, as nurses led a head count and tended to the severely ill.
Doctors, nurses and hospital staff were seen helping to carry numerous patients out of the building.
Abdul Ghani Muhamad, 71, who was warded on the fourth floor, said he was asked to evacuate after people noticed smoke coming from another part of the building.
"My daughter, who accompanied me in the ward last night, was about to go home when we were asked to evacuate. Doctors and nurses scrambled to make sure everyone got out safely.
"My daughter and nurses helped carry me in my wheelchair down the stairs," he said.