KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- A fire that broke out at a hospital in Johor Bahru in southern Malaysia on Tuesday morning killed six patients and caused an evacuation of hundreds of people, according to the Star.

The fire broke out at the intensive care unit on the second floor of the Sultanah Aminah Hospital, where seven patients were warded, the report said.

During the operation, firefighters recovered the bodies of six patients and rescued a male patient, who later was transferred to another hospital for extensive burns.

Ten of the hospital staff were also injured, among which two had been transferred to nearby hospital for treatment, Health Minister S. Subramaniam said on Facebook, adding all necessary measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the evacuated patients.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation but a report from Oriental Daily said preliminary police probe indicated electrical short circuit and ruled out arson.