180 left homeless as Tawau fire destroys 45 houses

 

The fire broke out at about 2.30pm and quickly engulfed the houses at Kampung Tanjung Batu Laut Logpond water village. (JBPM pic)

TAWAU: As many as 180 people were made homeless when a fire destroyed 45 houses in Kampung Tanjung Batu Laut Logpond water village this afternoon.

Tawau fire and rescue station chief Jemishin Ujin said the affected area was about 9,000sq m.

“We received a distress call at 2.31pm and 44 firemen along with fire engines were rushed to the site of the incident located 4.1km away.

“The fire-fighting operation was carried out with three jet streams (hoses) using water sourced from the fire engines, fire hydrants and seawater,” he said in a statement.

No casualties were reported.

Jemishin said the fire was brought under control at 4.31pm and the cause of the incident and losses incurred were still under investigation.

“This village has about 300 houses and even though the fire was successfully brought under control, the fire department is still monitoring the situation as a precaution,” he said.

One of the victims, Farida Amir, 42, could only watch helplessly as the house she inherited from her family was destroyed in the fire.

Farida, who works at a sawmill, said that she did not expect to lose her family home and left with nothing just before Ramadan.

“A colleague told me there was a fire in the village. I immediately called my son, and he told me that the fire was getting closer to our house. I rushed home but when I got there the house was already engulfed in flames.

“All my family members are safe, but our belongings, including personal documents, are destroyed.”

Tawau district deputy police chief Champin Piuh said strict monitoring was being carried out due to the large number of houses involved.

“The victims are advised to look after their personal and valuable items as well as important documents so that they are not lost,” he said when met by reporters at the scene tonight.

Champin also advised the public who wanted to provide aid to the victims to do so through the district disaster management committee so that the distribution could be carried out in a fair and transparent manner. - FMT