KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA January 12, 2026 – The number of victims from an air conditioner compressor explosion at HELP University in Bukit Damansara has risen to 10, including one fatality, Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Datuk Fadil Marsus confirmed today.
The deceased was a 24-year-old Malaysian male employed by an air conditioning contractor company. He succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL).
“Latest updates indicate an additional victim has been identified, bringing the total to 10 individuals affected compared to the nine reported earlier,” Fadil said in a statement.
Of the victims, eight are Malaysian citizens and two are foreigners.
Among the eight Malaysians:
– One male contractor worker died.
– Two sustained severe injuries.
– Five others suffered varying degrees of injury, including two male students, two female students, and one technician.
The two foreign victims include an Indonesian male cafeteria worker who sustained minor injuries. Details on the second foreign victim were not specified.
The remaining nine victims are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals, including the University of Malaya Medical Centre (PPUM), Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL), and Sungai Buloh Hospital.
The explosion occurred around 11:40 AM in a maintenance area next to the cafeteria on the fourth floor of the private university’s building.
Preliminary investigations by the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) suggest the blast was caused by a leak in the air conditioning gas system. Investigation teams remain at the scene.
Bernama reporters at the site observed the use of two K9 detection dogs from JBPM during the rescue operation.
(Source: Adapted from BERNAMA report, January 12, 2026)
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