Six patients dead, one survivor in JB hospital blaze

At least six patients have died after a fire broke out at the Intensive Care Unit on the second floor of the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru about 9am Tuesday (Oct 25).

The blaze also forced the mass evacuation of patients and medical personnel, according to Malaysian media reports.The six fatalities were among seven patients trapped by the blaze, said Malaysia's Fire and Rescue Department in a tweet. One patient survived the ordeal.

Johor Bahru (South) Police assistant commissioner Sulaiman Salleh said that four women and two men died, while a male patient survived the blaze.

The fire department also said that operations have ended. 

Malaysian daily New Straits Times said around 13 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) had to be carried out of the building via staircases in the main building.

Patients from the maternity ward — which was evacuated — were also seen being led away from the burning building, reported the New Straits Times.

Firefighters are currently putting out the blaze at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital, the largest in Johor state. Johor royalty have also used the hospital in the past.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak tweeted in Malay: "I was told about the fire in Hospital Sultanah Aminah. The @KKMPutrajaya (Health ministry in Putrajaya) & @bombaJBPM (the Fire Department) is managing the situation. I am waiting for the latest report."