Two children killed in lorry fire

KOTA KINABALU: A lorry driver could only watch in horror as his two young nieces burned to death after the vehicle they were travelling in plunged into a ravine in Sandakan and burst into flames.

During the 7pm mishap on Saturday, Asim Taladu managed to pull his wife Ikin out of the burning lorry but could not rush back for the girls as the flames were too strong.

The charred remains of Amanda Faizul, eight, and her younger sister, Marcilla, four, were found by rescuers after the fire was doused an hour later.

Sandakan police chief Asst Comm Azhar Hamin said Asim, 32, was driving from Kg Pampang when he lost control of his lorry, which was carrying gas cylinders.

Plunging into a 6m-deep ravine, the lorry exploded into flames together with the gas cylinders, he said when contacted here yesterday.

“The man managed to pull his wife out of the burning lorry but could not return for the girls,” said ACP Azhar, adding that the 21-year-old woman was also severely burnt.

He said Ikin sustained burns on 80% of her body and remained in critical condition while Asim suffered burns over 20% of his body.

ACP Azhar said it was believed that the fast-spreading flames were likely caused by the combustion of the gas following the crash.