KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 25 -- Guests at a hotel in Bukit Katil in Melaka were forced to evacuate abruptly after a fire broke out in the hotel's banquet hall during a company annual dinner on Wednesday evening.

The incident occurred around 8pm, shortly after a company representative concluded their opening speech, according to a Sinar Harian report.

Almost 1,400 staff from a cleaning company were attending the event when smoke and flames were spotted from the roof at the rear of the hall, prompting the emcee to order an immediate evacuation.

Witnesses described guests running in panic to leave the hall, while all were able to exit safely.

One worker, however, was sent to hospital after experiencing shortness of breath due to exposure to hea...