A fire broke out at a National University of Singapore (NUS) laboratory in the engineering faculty on Friday night.

One graduate student, who had been in the laboratory, and a security officer were taken to the National University Hospital for smoke inhalation. They have been discharged from the hospital.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted of the incident at about 10.15pm. Firefighters took one and a half hours to put out the fire, which had engulfed the level six laboratory.

SCDF said the fire was contained in the laboratory located in Block EW2 at 3 Engineering Drive 3.

An NUS spokesman said that "the safety and well-being of our staff and students are our top priorities". She added that NUS is providing assistance to those affected by the incident.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.