2 days needed to identify victims
> Health minister confirms death toll in blaze while those injured are being treated in hospital
KUALA LUMPUR: The Chemistry Department of the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) will need at least two days to identify the remains of 23 individuals killed in a fire at a tahfiz school in Jalan Datuk Keramat yesterday morning.
Out of the 23, 21 are tahfiz students and two are the school’s caretakers.
Health Minister Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam confirmed the figures at a press conference held at HKL’s lobby yesterday.
“Out of the seven who received burns, six are tahfiz students and one is a neighbour who came to help. They are receiving medical care at the hospital’s emergency ward.”
On the sidelines, Emergency and Trauma Department head Prof Datuk Seri Dr Abu Hassan Asaari Abdullah said it would take time to manage the trauma and psychological effects of the tragedy on the survivors.
He added the worst case was that of a 14-year-old boy who sustained multiple injuries to his pelvis, lung and liver.
A sombre mood was felt at the hospital yesterday as families and relatives waited for news on their children’s fate.
Shelafaza Abdul Razak, who rushed from work on receiving a call from her younger sister at 10am, could not contain her grief at the possibility of losing her nephew.
“I wish I could see him because his name is not listed (as among the deceased),” she said when met outside the hospital morgue.
“I remember when he enrolled at the school at the age of three. He is now 16. I met him during the last Hari Raya festivities.”
Security was tight at the morgue as a second police truck drove in with remains wrapped in white shrouds at 11am.
It is learnt the first truck arrived earlier with 12 bodies.
Neighbours who heard the children’s cries at about 5.40am were unable to help as the blaze kept them at bay.
Hazin Manan, 64, said he heard the cries from the top-most floor of the three-storey building but was unable to assist.
“I heard them shouting for help, and within 20 minutes, the blaze was at its peak. I heard three explosions just before fire and rescue personnel arrived.
“Following the third explosion, the screams and cries were no longer heard.
“I wanted to help but there was no way to enter the premises,” Hazin told reporters.
Preliminary investigations into the fire showed it was not caused by a short circuit, said director of the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department, Khirudin Drahman.
He said the forensic findings and the Energy Commission confirmed that the wiring and the school building’s main switch was in good condition.