The Kuala Lumpur fire and rescue department said personnel from stations in Setapak, Sentul, Hang Tuah and Gombak Selatan were dispatched to the scene after receiving a distress call at about 8.45pm.

Firefighters arrived minutes later to find the dormitory’s first floor engulfed in flames, but all the students were accounted for in the mosque.

“The situation was brought under control by 9.40pm, and we managed to prevent further damage to the building,” the department said in a statement.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and authorities are working to assess the damage

Kosmo reported that the dormitory had housed 96 students.