Woman dies, five rescued in Bangsar house fire

KUALA LUMPUR: A woman died while five other people having breathing difficulties were rescued in a fire at their house in Lorong Maarof, Bangsar, here yesterday, according to the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department.

Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue director Khirudin Drahman alias Hussaini said the body of the woman, identified as Kamadevi, in her 50s, was found on the staircase of the double-storey house following the fire that occurred at about 4am. He said firefighters had to break down the main door to enter the six-bedroom house to rescue the trapped occupants.

“When the firefighters reached the house, they found the living room on fire and brought the blaze under control at 4.46am,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

Khirudin said two people ran out of the house once the firefighters broke down the main door, two others were found lying on a bed in a top-floor bedroom while a youth was found crying in a ground-floor bedroom.

“The firefighters acted swiftly to rescue four members of the family and a domestic helper who were trapped in the burning house,” he said.

He said three of the victims were administered treatment at the Red Zone of the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre and two others were treated at the normal ward.

All of them were aged between 12 and 60, he added.

Khirudin said the fire is believed to have started in the living room. The cause has yet to be ascertained, he added. — Bernama