Woman Left With Severe Burns After Using Phone While Filling Up Petrol

Three weeks after she was burnt in a fire while filling petrol and using a handphone in Taman Setapak Indah, T. Sarifhla passed away at 5am in Kuala Lumpur Hospital yesterday, 19 July.

"The victim’s family announced the death today and the case was classified as sudden death," Wangsa Maju police chief Supt Mohamad Roy Suhaimi Sarif told Bernama.

On 28 June, the 25-year-old reportedly suffered 60% burns on her body when the handphone she was using suddenly caught fire while she was filling petrol of her Perodua Axia.

Local media reported that 60% of her body suffered severe burns following the gruesome incident.

According to Malay daily Berita Harian, the woman was identified as T. Sarifhla.

A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said that they received an emergency call at about 1.25pm before a fire engine and a team of firemen rushed to the scene.

"When we arrived at the scene, it was found to be true that an explosion occurred inside a red Perodua Axia that was driven by the lady. However, the incident did not involve any fire," he said, as reported by Kosmo.

The 25-year-old woman was still conscious and was able to provide her personal details to the firemen before she was rushed to Hospital Kuala Lumpur and she is said to be in a stable condition.

According to him, the lady drove the red Perodua Axia parked at the petrol station before she opened the left passenger door and then moved to pick up a ringing cell phone from the front seat.

"As soon as she answered the call, the fire broke out and consumed victim," he said.

He also advised the public to avoid using handphones when filling up the petrol tank to avoid this incident from happening to anyone else.