KOTA KINABALU: More than 400 people have been left homeless after a predawn fire blazed through 90 wooden stilt houses at a water village in Sabah’s east coast Sandakan.
No casualties were reported in the 3am fire at the sprawling squatter village of Kampung Cenderamata in Bati Sapi area yesterday.Sandakan Zone 6 Fire and Rescue Department chief Jasri Abd Jal said the fire spread rapidly through the close-spaced wooden houses in the water village with over 200 homes.
He said the dimly lit area, houses in close proximity and low water pressure made it tough for firemen to fight the raging fire.
“We could not use the seawater as it was low tide,” he added.
Despite the challenges, Jasri said they managed to bring the fire under control within two hours and put it out by 7.48am yesterday.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
Most of the victims were unable to salvage their valuables and belongings.
Sandakan OCPD Asst Comm Abd Fuad Abd Malek said the victims will be sheltered at a temporary relief centre at Batu Sapi’s People’s Housing Programme housing area.
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