Minor fire at hotel function room cuts short closing ceremony of rabies event
KUCHING: The Plan of Action for Rabies Control and Eradication 2024-2025 event attended by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas yesterday was cut short after a minor fire broke out at the hotel function room where it was held.
Uggah was due to officiate the closing ceremony of the event, organised by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) and Sarawak Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), and was listening to a closed-door presentation when smoke suddenly billowed from the ceiling of the function room.
He was then seen rushing out together with the others before going off in his official vehicle.
Members of the media waiting outside the function room were also asked to join the attendees to evacuate to an open space outside the hotel.
It was then announced that the closing ceremony was cancelled.
According to eyewitnesses, they were sparks coming from where the smoke was noticed.
Some of the participants then shouted 'fire, fire' before the hotel security ordered everyone inside the function room to evacuate.
Quick action by hotel staff to extinguish the fire prevented the situation from getting worse.
DVS Sarawak director Datu Dr Adrian Susin Ambud when met by reporters said the closing ceremony had to be cancelled due to the unexpected incident.
He said the fire was spotted during the presentation of workshop findings for Uggah, who is also SDMC chairman.
There were 140 people from 15 agencies attending the closing ceremony, he added.
Meanwhile, a representative from the hotel when asked said a short could have triggered the fire.