Quick action by firemen saves six backpackers on ledge in KK

KOTA KINABALU: Quick action by firemen saw the rescue of six tourists at a backpackers lodge here when a fire broke out on the third floor of the building on Tuesday morning (Feb 6).

Firemen safely brought down the mainly European and Western tourists who stood on the ledge after they were trapped by the fire and smoke inside the premises at Kampung Air within the town centre here at around 8.30am.

A Sabah Fire and Rescue Department operations centre spokesman said the victims - five women and a man - were brought down with a ladder.

Those rescued were identified as Roxanne Laura, 25, from Switzerland, Daniella Maria, 25, from the United States and Katyleen Marie-Gisele, 28, from France.

The other three were only identified by their first names - Gabriela, a 26-year-old woman from Slovakia, Anatasia, a 23-year-old from Russia and Shunsuke, a 22-year-old man from Japan.

None of them were hurt or suffered any injuries.

The spokesman said they received a distress call at 8.49am.

A total of 35 firemen in three fire engines were deployed to the scene.

"A fire in one of the five guest rooms destroyed the entire room while the other rooms were affected by the smoke and heat," the spokesman added.

Firemen managed to put out the fire and stopped it from spreading to other premises in the block.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.