MUAR, Dec 19 — A man is in critical condition at Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital in Muar after suffering severe burns in a cooking gas explosion at his home in Taman Pagoh Jaya last night.

Muar police chief Assistant Commissioner Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said the victim, identified as 51-year-old Fauzisham Darwis, is unconscious after sustaining burns to about 60 per cent of his body, New Straits Times reported today.

“An inspection found a man lying outside the house with burn injuries to his face, body and limbs,” he was quoted as saying.

According to the news report, the incident occurred in the kitchen of the two-storey terraced house while Fauzisham was home alone; his wife had gone out to buy items.

Fauzisham works as a hub cleaner at Universiti Pagoh, while his wife is a caregiver.

Firefighters from Pagoh Fire and Rescue Station deployed seven personnel to the scene after receiving an emergency call at 8.54pm, with the blaze involving cooking appliances.

In a separate news article, Harian Metro reported a friend of Fauzisham recounting what he witnessed.

“He was screaming in pain, and neighbours came to help, but the front door could not be opened, forcing them to break it down,” Hanafi Taib, also 51, told the Malay newspaper.

Hanafi said he received a call from one of Fauzisham’s siblings informing him about the victim’s injuries and rushed to the scene.

“Upon arriving at the house, I saw bloodstains on his hands and feet while his body looked pale. The house was in disarray due to the strong explosion. The ceiling and water tank in the two-storey house were also damaged. At that moment, the victim was sitting down, groaning in pain from the burns,” he told Harian Metro.

He added that his friend had fallen asleep after returning from work at a university in Pagoh, while his wife and children were out.

“Normally, he does not sleep at that time, and he was supposed to be at the mosque. We were told that one of the wires connecting to the kitchen came loose, causing gas to leak and fill the house. We were informed that the victim woke up and tried to light a cigarette with a lighter. Suddenly, a strong explosion occurred, breaking part of the house, including the glass window,” Hanafi was quoted as saying.

Pagoh Fire and Rescue Station operations commander Nor Alfattah Omar said the fire was extinguished by members of the public before the deployed firefighting team reached the house and that Fauzisham was rushed to the hospital by an ambulance.