Woman killed in house fire in Kota Belud

KOTA KINABALU: A 55-year-old woman perished in a fire that destroyed her house in Kota Belud about 80km from here early Thursday.

The charred remains of Arimah Sagi were found by firemen beside the front door of her house at Kg Tambilaung, said Kota Belud fire station chief Rozlan Osman.

He said the woman was living with six other family members aged between six and 74.

The others managed to get out safely, although three motorcycles were destroyed in the fire that razed the house.

Rozlan said a fire engine with seven men was despatched after a distress call was received at 2.09am.

He said the cause of the fire has yet to be established and the body of the victim was handed over to the police for further investigations.

The incident follows another fire at a rented house in Taman Kingfisher here.

A university student suffered burns to her hand when she tried to open the door of her room which had caught fire on Wednesday (Nov 29).

The 23-year-old Sarawakian, who were among varsity students staying in the house, was trying to save her belongings and pet rabbit.

The student’s rabbit died and her belongings were destroyed, and she is being treated for burns at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The blaze is believed to have been caused by a faulty electrical socket.