Mother, daughter die in fire at hut in durian orchard

 

Gerik police chief Zulkifli Mahmood said the hut was far from the main road. (JBPM pic)

GERIK: A woman and her disabled daughter were found burnt to death in a fire at Kampung Air Tarung, Gerik, early this morning.

The police identified them as Rahmah Zainon, 76, and Razilawati Mohamad, 43, who was visually impaired.

Gerik police chief Zulkifli Mahmood said Rahmah’s husband, Mohamad Abd Latif, 84, reported that the fire started in the kitchen of their hut located in an orchard at about 4am.

“The father tried to rescue them but failed. He then sought help from residents,” he said, adding that the hut was located a distance from the main road.

Zulkifli said a post-mortem did not reveal any foul play and the case had been classified as sudden death.

According to Rahmah’s son, Saudin, 37, the family had been travelling between their village in Kuala Ketil, Kedah, and the hut. The family orchard had been planted with durian trees and other fruit trees for more than 30 years.

Saudin, the youngest of the eight siblings, said the family had gathered at the hut only last week. The other siblings had returned to Kuala Ketil, leaving his father, mother and sister at the hut. - FMT