TAWAU: The 221 fire victims from 36 affected households at Kg Sri Aman were evacuated to the Temporary Evacuation Centre (PPS) at the Tawau Sports Complex (KST).
The victims comprised 52 men, 59 women, 54 male children, 32 female children, five male infants, six female infants, six elderly men and seven elderly women.
District Disaster Management Committee decided to house the affected victims at the Tawau Sports Complex due to the large number involved, as nearby halls were unable to accommodate them. One of the victims, Liny Daurong, 58, who suffers from diabetes, expressed gratitude that she and her husband survived the incident despite facing numerous challenges.
“Before the incident, we were sleeping in our room when our son came home to alert us about the fire. He carried his paralysed father and ran out across a bridge that was already engulfed by flames.
“They both managed to reach to safety before the bridge leading to the mainland was completely destroyed. However, I was following behind and could not make it in time, so I had to take another bridge,” she said.
Liny said she was forced to jump into the sea and watched as her house and the surrounding bridges were engulfed by flames. She later swam to the mainland while carrying some of her personal belongings.
She said she prayed for the safety of her family.
“Although our house was destroyed, the fire strengthened my faith,” she said.
She expressed gratitude that her husband, who has been paralysed since 2013, survived by the grace of God. She added that one of her daughters, who lives with them, was at Tawau Hospital at the time of the incident. She welcomes assistance from the relevant agencies.
“We hope to be allowed to rebuild our house on the original site with the help of the government,” she said, adding that they were unable to rent units under the People’s Housing Programme (PPR) due to her husband’s immobility, unless there is vacant unit on the ground floor.
Another victim, housewife Janing Jamalang, 57, said she never expected such incident to befall her family.
“I was unwell in my bedroom when I suddenly heard loud voices outside saying there was a fire, so I went out to see what was happening,” she said and ran to get her daughter and the family nearby.
Janing said she could only watch as her house was destroyed but she was grateful that they survived and managed to save some important documents and belongings.
Janing also hoped the government would assist them in rebuilding their homes on the original site, stressing that her family could not afford to rent PPR housing due to their low income.
Meanwhile, community leader of the affected village, Saleh Kalim, confirmed that all wooden bridges connecting the houses in the area were completely destroyed.
“The bridge there is known as the first bridge, but it was completely burnt.
“In fact, we have lived here since the major fire at Kampung Ice Box (now known as Kampung Titingan) in 1989, although some residents only arrived after 2000,” he said, while expressing appreciation for the swift assistance provided by various parties.
The fire at Kampung Sri Aman last Saturday resulted in the destruction of 30 wooden houses, making it the largest fire incident involving residential destruction in Tawau in 2025.
