20161026 Fire breaks out again at Johor Baru hospital
Singapore Oct 26 2016 “Hospitals”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Fire breaks out again at Johor Baru hospital
Updated: 2016-10-26 23:54
SINGAPORE: Another fire broke out at Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru on Wednesday (Oct 26), just a day after a deadly blaze at the hospital left six patients dead.
The Malaysia Fire and Rescue Department said the incident happened at around 1.40pm.
In a tweet, Johor’s fire and rescue services chief Othman Abdullah confirmed that “sparks” occurred on the first floor of the building, below the Intensive Care Unit affected in Tuesday’s fire. Water used for cleaning the area had come into contact with an electric plug, resulting in “sparks”.
Exposed wires came into contact with water during area cleaning. (Photo: Malaysia Fire and Rescue Department)
According to The Star, the fire started at the operation theatre in this emergency and trauma ward. It was “small” and the situation was now under control.
The Malaysian daily added that a fire engine was seen on the hospital grounds and “hospital staff, patients, and public were asked to evacuate the area”.
Chief of police for Johor Baru Selatan later said that the main HSA building will be shut down for 24 hours to allow authorities to control and monitor the situation.
Hospital staff assist in evacuating the Sultanah Aminah Hospital on Wednesday. (Photo: Bernama/Nor Baizura Basri)
In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, Malaysia’s Health Ministry said that authorities are conducting a thorough inspection of the electrical system and other related appliances.
“We will only use the (West) block when it is certified safe,” said Health Minister S Subramaniam in the statement.
AUDIT ORDERED
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has ordered a fire audit on all its facilities nationwide, paying close attention to hospitals that are more than 50 years old.
After addressing the audit in the lower house, Dr Subramaniam spoke to media about Tuesday’s incident, calling it “most saddening for all at the Ministry of Health”.
“Because we were in the process of treating these patients when it happened, it saddens all of us and many are emotionally disturbed by this still,” he said.
Earlier, it was announced that the Health Ministry would appoint a special committee made up of related agencies and experts to “thoroughly” investigate the deadly fire.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak also wrote on Facebook confirming a “detailed investigation” on the incident and thanking officials such as police, fire and rescue officers, as well as medical staff for their work in ensuring public safety at Johor’s largest hospital.
Web Source：Channel Neasasia
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