Minister Hannah Yeoh warns bathrooms are death traps in fires, citing fatal cases in KL strata buildings and urging residents to know escape routes.
KUALA LUMPUR: The public has been strongly advised against taking shelter in bathrooms or toilets during a fire, following several fatal incidents in Kuala Lumpur’s strata residential buildings.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh highlighted that these spaces have limited ventilation and can quickly fill with smoke, causing oxygen levels to plummet and leading to unconsciousness within minutes.
She expressed concern over a worrying trend where most fire victims are found in bathrooms, mistakenly believing it to be a safe escape route while not realising the water temperature can rise dangerously.
Victims inside bathrooms are also difficult for rescue personnel to detect, as firefighters typically check main areas like living rooms and bedrooms first.
Therefore, residents are urged to identify their building’s emergency exit routes and evacuate immediately if a fire occurs.
If unable to exit the building, residents should stay in a room with windows facing outside and seal the door gap with a wet cloth to prevent smoke ingress.
Residents can also signal for help by waving a cloth or brightly coloured object at the window to assist rescue teams in locating them more easily.
Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department director Hassan ‘As’ari Omar provided statistics showing several fatal cases where victims were found in bathrooms.
He cited cases involving three people in 2024 and five people in 2025 at various locations across the capital.
Commenting on fire causes in strata buildings, he said the majority were due to electrical problems and human negligence, including using uncertified appliances.
He added that fires were also caused by equipment used for illegal activities and the dangerous practice of charging mobile phones while sleeping.
The public has been reminded to be more cautious with electrical appliances and to ensure they only use products with proper safety certification.
Earlier, Hannah Yeoh noted an increasing number of fire incidents in Kuala Lumpur strata buildings, with 68 cases in 2023, 75 in 2024, and 86 in 2025.
She said this trend requires cooperation from all parties, including joint management bodies, to maintain the highest fire safety standards.
She also channelled a grant of RM50,000 to the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department to help purchase additional equipment and strengthen operational readiness.
 The Sun Malaysia
