Fire destroys over 250 houses at Semporna water village

What is left of the houses after the fire in Kg Bangau Bangau

KOTA KINABALU: A fire destroyed at least 250 wooden houses leaving more than 2,000 people homeless at the Kampung Bangau Bangau water settlement in the east coast Semporna district.

No casualties were reported in the 2am blaze.

Semporna Fire and Rescues Services chief Fazizul Izhan Borhan said firemen from Semporna and Tawau had trouble fighting the fire that spread rapidly among the wooden structures.

“We had problems getting water and eventually had to load our pumps on to the boats of some villagers and used sea water,” he said.

Fazizul said firemen managed to put of the fire at about 7am. By then the houses in area covering some 2ha had been destroyed.

In 2003, several hundred houses were destroyed when a fire swept through the settlement then.

Kampung Bangau Bangau had also became known as a hideout for criminals including cross border kidnappers.