One Dead, 9 Injured: Everything You Should Know About The Bukit Damansara University Explosion
A compressor explosion at HELP University in Bukit Damansara killed one UTAR intern and injured nine others. Here's what happened, what caused it, and what authorities and the university have said so far.
Cover image via Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.
What happened?
At around 11am on 12 January, an air-conditioning compressor exploded on the fourth floor of a HELP University campus building in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.
The blast occurred in the air-conditioning maintenance area located within the fourth-floor cafeteria, where maintenance work was being carried out at the time.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus said the explosion is believed to have been caused by a gas leak from the compressor.
Fire and Rescue Department teams later confirmed that the blast caused about 30% structural damage to the fourth floor, though no fire broke out.
Authorities have said investigations are ongoing, and no elements of criminal activity have been found so far.
Who was affected?
One person was killed, and nine others were injured.
The fatality was a 24-year-old mechanical engineering student from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), identified as Soo Yu Jian.
He was undergoing industrial training with an air-conditioning maintenance company and was part of the team assigned to the repair work at the university.
He was scheduled to complete his industrial training on 15 January.
UTAR Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering dean Prof Chang Yoong Choon told Bernama the student had gone to the site as part of a routine assignment related to air-conditioning maintenance work.
UTAR has confirmed it provides insurance coverage for students during industrial training, and will submit an insurance claim once relevant documents are obtained.
Chang said he is personally representing the university to manage the case until its resolution, and that the company the victim was interning with has expressed commitment to provide assistance, including funeral arrangements.
The deceased's mother and older brother were seen at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital forensic department later on Monday.
Of the nine injured victims, four were HELP University students, one was a university staff member, two were foreign workers employed at the cafeteria, and two were contractors.
Some victims sustained burns and injuries from flying debris, with some reported to be in serious condition. All injured individuals were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering head Prof Dr Chang Yoong Choon said the victim was a student from his department and was in the final week of the industrial placement.
Image via New Straits TimesWhat did students experience?
Law student Emma, 18, who had just returned to campus after year-end holidays, described feeling the building shake, according to The Star.
She said she was relaxing between classes when she felt the building move, initially thinking it was caused by activity at a nearby gym.
She later realised it was an explosion after seeing more people evacuating the building. She also said a classmate was among the injured students after a piece of the ceiling crashed down.
Following the incident, face-to-face classes have been temporarily halted, with students told to attend online classes until 16 January.
What has HELP University said?
In a statement issued yesterday, HELP University confirmed that an incident occurred in the kitchen of an F&B outlet on the fourth floor of one of its Bukit Damansara campus buildings.
The university, on its Instagram page, stated that students and staff were immediately evacuated according to emergency protocols, and emergency services arrived shortly after being notified.
HELP confirmed that nine people sustained injuries, including four students and one university staff member, and that there was one fatality involving an external contractor.
The university said its priority is the wellbeing of those affected, and that it is working closely with medical services and communicating with affected families.
The affected building will remain closed until investigations are completed.
HELP also said it is commencing internal safety checks across its Bukit Damansara campus and Subang Bestari campus.
The Subang Bestari campus will remain open for operations and classes.
What are authorities and other agencies doing?
The Fire and Rescue Department's Hazmat and forensic teams have conducted inspections to ensure the area is safe and to prevent secondary explosions.
Authorities have confirmed the site is safe, though full investigations into the cause are still ongoing.
The Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) has instructed HELP University to carry out comprehensive safety inspections on its facilities.
The ministry also said the university must ensure all affected areas are cleared by authorities before reopening, and must provide medical and psychosocial support to victims.
MOHE reiterated its commitment to student and staff safety at higher learning institutions, emphasising adherence to safety standards and routine maintenance.
Meanwhile, AmanahRaya Real Estate Investment Trust (AmanahRaya REIT), which manages the university property, has appointed independent assessors to conduct a thorough evaluation.
It said the canteen area affected by the explosion has been evacuated and access remains restricted as a precaution, adding that it is cooperating fully with authorities and supporting the university.
What don't we know yet?
Authorities have not yet confirmed the precise technical cause of the gas leak believed to have triggered the explosion.
Investigations by police and the Fire and Rescue Department are still ongoing.
Further updates are expected once official investigation reports are completed.
