The Kuala Lumpur fire and rescue department operations centre said it received an emergency call via the NG999 line at 2.13am and dispatched a team to the scene.

In a statement, operations commander Azrul Khairi Abu Bakar said 45 personnel from the Jalan Hang Tuah fire and rescue station were deployed to the premises, with assistance from the Titiwangsa, Pudu, Sentul and Sri Hartamas stations.

“Upon arrival at the scene at 2.25am, firefighters found that the blaze involved a shophouse measuring 15 by 70 square feet. It had destroyed about 50% of the structure on the ground and first floors.

“Firefighters rescued 11 foreign nationals, comprising nine men and two women. However, another male victim was pronounced dead by a medical officer from the health ministry,” he said.

Azrul Khairi said firefighters used ladders to rescue four men trapped on the second floor, as well as two men and a woman who were on the roof.

All 11 survivors were sent to hospital for further treatment after the fire was fully extinguished at 5.10am.

The cause of the fire and the extent of losses are still under investigation.