Kota Kinabalu: An elderly couple and a woman were burnt to death after their houses in separate fires in Kudat and Semporna, respectively.
The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Centre said the couple, aged 73 and 74 were found in a bedroom of the two-storey non-permanent house, which was razed at Kampung Lausan Batu 4, Kudat, late Friday.
Firefighters received a distress call at 11.58 pm, and a team of firefighters rushed to the scene, arriving there at 12.36am Saturday before putting the fire under control about an hour later, despite access difficulties caused by a narrow bridge and low power lines.
In another incident in SEMPORNA, a 58-year-old visually impaired woman lost her life in a devastating fire that destroyed seven squatter houses in Kampung Perigi, Saturday.
Semporna Fire and Rescue Station Chief Rastam Keladi said the victim, identified as Munairaya Baluan, was found dead in the blaze.
He said the fire broke out at 11.12am, prompting an immediate response. The blaze was brought under control at 11.57 am.
A team of nine firefighters from the Semporna Fire and Rescue Station was dispatched to the scene, arriving just four minutes later.
Upon arrival, they found that seven non-permanent squatter houses, measuring 55x100 square feet each, were fully engulfed in flames. The structures were completely destroyed in the fire.
The fire crew worked swiftly to extinguish the flames, using two streams of water from the fire engines’ tanks.
Despite their efforts, the woman was discovered deceased during the operation.
The fire department has reported that overhaul operations are still ongoing, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
