Selangor Journal

HSA fire: Nation’s 8th hospital fire is worst tragedy

KUALA LUMPUR, OCT 26: The fire at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Sultanah Aminah Hospital, which killed 6 people on the 25 October, was a tragedy and the biggest fire incident in the hospital’s history.
However, the case was also the worst hospital fire incident involving casualties ever recorded in the country.
There are 7 fire incident and cases involving numerous hospitals since 1993:
May 30, 1993: Part of the medical faculty, located on Level 2 of the administration block of National University of Malaysia next to Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, was destroyed by a fire at 2:30 am. No casualties were reported.
July 8, 1993: The 2 am fire incident at Kuala Lumpur Hospital’s Neurology Institution led to 190 patients being evacuated, with an estimated total loss and damage of RM200,000 loss incurred. No casualties were reported.
Janurary 16, 1995: A fire underneath the staircase of Level 3, University Hospital destroyed construction equipment, which were stored underneath the staircase by contractors.
May 2, 2007: An electrical trip at an elevator led to a small fire on Level 1 of Kuala Lumpur General Hospital (HKL), Neurology Ward, resulted in the transfer of a total of 50 patients and guests. No casualties were reported.
July 30, 2011: A mental patient started a fire with a cigarette lighter, at Mental Patients’ Isolation Room, HKL Emergency Department.
The 12:30 am fire triggered and spread rapidly, generating thick smoke. Only one casualty reported.
February 15, 2014: Sarawak General Hospital’s new building block was on fire due to a wielding spark by a construction in the area nearby.
No damage was reported. However, an Indonesian construction worker, aged 35, was found dead with burnt marks at the scene. About 151 patients from 6 wards were evacuated.
August 15, 2016: A small fire incident at a storeroom of Sri Kota Hospital, Klang. No evacuation of patients or guests were needed and zero casualties reported.
According to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) website, the hospital located at Jalan Skudai, about 2 kilometres from Johor Bahru City centre was built in 1938 to replace the earliest hospital in the region, built in 1882.
Encompassing an area of 98.6 hectares, HSA is situated near the Tebrau Straits facing Singapore, with a 5-storey high hospital building.
Designed by Palmer and Turner Architects Company, HSA has two T-shaped wings.
HSA currently provides 21 clinical services, 9 clinical support services, 5 non-clinical support services and has 7 units under HSA management.
It is also the centre of coronary treatment and heart surgery, for the southern region including Sabah and Sarawak.
Until 2010, a total of 989 beds were available in HSA to cope with the growing numbers of patients in the state.
SOURCE: BERNAMA

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