Four-year-old in Kelantan becomes state’s first heat stroke fatality of the year

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD girl from Gua Musang has been recorded as Kelantan’s first fatality due to heat stroke this year, after reportedly being left alone in a vehicle for nearly three to four hours.

Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin, Director of the Kelantan State Health Department, revealed that the child’s death was linked to prolonged exposure to high temperatures inside the car.

“The weather in Kelantan is currently hot, with relatively high temperatures despite rain in certain areas,” he said during a press conference at the Program Citra Remaja Unggul held at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ismail Petra in Kota Bharu on Wednesday.

“This situation still poses a risk of heat stroke, especially to children,” he added.

Dr Zaini urged parents to exercise extreme caution and never leave their children unattended, particularly in vehicles or confined spaces where temperatures can quickly rise.

“No matter the weather conditions, the safety of children must always be prioritised to prevent such unfortunate incidents,” he emphasised. - October 22, 2025