A FIRE broke out at Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) in Johor Baru this afternoon.

Based on several videos shared by social media users on their Facebook page, the fire started from one of the women’s wards, not far from the Mahmoodiah Health Clinic.

The video also shows health workers rushing to move a number of patients in the ward to a safer area.

Johor Fire and Rescue Department, when contacted, confirmed the incident and said a statement will be issued soon.

It is learnt that Health Minister Dr Adham Baba also visited the scene.

Meanwhile, a check by Bernama at about 4pm found several fire engines were still at the hospital vicinity even though the blaze has been put out.

Newsmen had also gathered in front of the ward to obtain information on the fire.

In 2016, six patients were killed in a fire that broke out in the intensive care unit of the same hospital. 

Adham later told reporters all 24 patients have been evacuated.

He said a small fire broke out initially, and was extinguished by the hospital’s emergency response team but the fire started to spread again.

“The firefighters arrived at the scene within five minutes and managed to put out the blaze 10 minutes later,” he said.

As at press time, 10 out of 24 patients have been transferred to the Permai Hospital while the rest have been placed in other wards in the HSA.

Adham also urged the families of the affected patients to obtain further information on the matter from the hospital.

He said the cause of the fire was still being investigated by the department.

Asked if it was similar to the October 2016 incident, he said: “We will wait for the fire and rescue department’s forensic report to determine if there are similarities. We will make sure the investigation is completed first.

“In the meantime, the complex (building) that houses the ward will also be closed,” he said.

Asked whether the ministry would re-inspect the entire HSA building following concerns over recurrences of fire in the future, Adham said it would look into the matter.

In a related development, state fire and rescue department director Yahaya Madis said the forensic investigation report to determine the cause of the fire will be known in a day or two.

“Once the investigation is completed, we will hand over the report to the hospital before it is made known. Normally in one to two days,” he told reporters after visiting the site of the incident.

He said the department had received an emergency call at 3.08pm and 60 personnel from its headquarters, Tebrau, Johor Jaya and Larkin fire and rescue stations rushed to the scene.

The fire-fighting operation involved three fire rescue tender vehicles, an emergency medical rescue service ambulance, three rapid intervention motorcycles and an aerial ladder platform.

“We arrived at the scene in five minutes and the fire was extinguished completely at 3.29pm,” he said.

Yahaya later said in a statement the fire had involved an oxygen panel, a vacuum, a call bell and a switch in one of the beds.

In October 2016, a fire broke out on the second floor of the hospital’s intensive care unit, leaving six dead. – Bernama, June 28, 2020.