Johor Health Dept dismisses viral claims of 'many deaths' at HSI due to blackout as fake

 

Johor Health director Datuk Dr Aman Rabu said a blackout did occur at the main building of HSI at 11.10pm on Tuesday night, but essential electrical supply still functioned. -File pic

JOHOR BARU: The state Health Department has dismissed a viral social media post claiming that many patients at Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI) had died following a blackout at the hospital.

Johor Health director Datuk Dr Aman Rabu said a blackout did occur at the main building of HSI at 11.10pm on Tuesday night, but essential electrical supply still functioned.

"Essential electrical supply continued to be fully functional through the supply from the generator. Initial inspection by the concession company found that the air circuit breaker had tripped. This caused the blackout and repair works were carried out.

"Electricity supply to all parts of the hospital was fully restored at 9.30am this morning," he said in a statement.

Dr Aman said there were no major implications to the care of patients at the emergency department, the Covid-19 Temporary Treatment Centre, and the wards.

"Most Categories 3, 4 and 5 Covid-19 patients use oxygen outlets at the wards or oxygen cylinder that does not use electricity.

"For other critical wards like the ICU and NICU, the ventilators used are connected directly to the essential plug (that is also hooked up to the generators).

"The hospital management would like to inform everyone that there were no deaths related to the blackout incident," he said.

He said the hospital and the concession company would continue to monitor the situation.

Earlier, a post on a Facebook under the profile name "Nama Saya Ana" claimed that many people died at HSI due to disrupted oxygen supply from by the blackout.

She also claimed to have heard cries from the patients asking for help before they died.

In the post, she asked Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim for help. - NST