Nine People Injured In Explosion At Private University In Bukit Damansara

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Nine people, including four students, were injured in an air-conditioning compressor explosion at a private university in Bukit Damansara here today, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus said.

He said police received an emergency call at 11.40 am regarding the explosion, which occurred in a maintenance area located next to the cafeteria on the fourth floor of the university building.

“Initial investigations found that an air-conditioning compressor exploded, and as a result, nine victims were involved, some seriously injured.

“The injuries varied, including burns and injuries caused by flying debris, as the explosion was strong enough to damage the walls in the affected area,” he told a press conference at the scene.

Fadil said all the victims were taken to several nearby hospitals for further treatment, including Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) and Sungai Buloh Hospital, and were separated according to the severity of their injuries.

He said that besides the four injured students, the other five victims comprised two external contractor workers called in to carry out air-conditioning repair works, a university management staff member, and two foreign nationals working at the cafeteria.

Fadil said it was fortunate that the area had not been crowded with students when the incident occurred, as many were still on holiday.

He said the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), together with the Hazmat team, conducted a thorough inspection to ensure the area was completely safe and to prevent any risk of a secondary explosion.

“JBPM has confirmed that the area is fully safe and investigations are ongoing,” he said.

He added that prior to the incident, the university management had called in technicians following technical problems detected in the air-conditioning system, but repair works had not yet begun.

According to him, 38 firefighters were involved in today’s operation, including the Fire Forensics team, Hazmat unit and personnel from nearby stations.

-- BERNAMA