Restaurant worker injured in kitchen fire

KUALA LUMPUR: A restaurant worker in Bangsar here was rushed to hospital following an explosion and subsequent fire in the outlet's kitchen.

Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Wan Mohd Shahrir Azizi Wan Said said the incident occurred at 11.44am on Wednesday (March 6).

"We received a call and dispatched four fire engines, a water tanker, an emergency medical rescue services vehicle and three rapid intervention motorcycles to the scene, together with 44 personnel," he said.

The Pantai, Seputeh, Jalan Hang Tuah and Sri Hartamas stations were involved in the operation.

Wan Mohd Shahrir Azizi, the Pantai station chief, said the firefighters found that a 45-year-old foreign worker at the restaurant had suffered 80% burns to his body.

He said the victim was rushed to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for treatment.

"No one else was injured," he said, adding that the fire was believed to have started in the kitchen, which was over 70% damaged.

Wan Mohd Shahrir Azizi said firefighters had to overcome various challenges, including an electrical substation located next to the restaurant, to stop the fire from spreading.

He said the blaze was put out by 12.40pm and the cause of the fire is still being determined.