Kuala lumpur: Part of the ceiling in the paediatric and women's wards at Jengka Hospital caught fire tonight, but all 17 individuals in the wards escaped unhurt. Maran district police chief Supt Wong Kim Wai said police were alerted to the incident at about 7 pm.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the fire involved the ceiling space of both wards and was fully extinguished by the Pahang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) in about 20 minutes. "Six boys, five girls, and six women who were in the wards managed to escape safely, and none sustained injuries," Wong said in a statement today.

Wong said initial information from Pahang JBPM indicated that the fire originated above the ceiling of the two wards, causing about 10 per cent damage to the wiring and ceiling structure. He added that the cause of the fire and the estimated losses were still under investigation.