Three, including child, killed in early morning Pitas house fire

KOTA KINABALU: Three people were killed in a fire in the Pitas district which broke out in the wee hours of Thursday (Aug 1).

The charred remains of SK Senaja Pitas headmaster Abdul Malik Mad Tasin, his 11-year-old daughter Nur Adriana Qistina and relative Salleh Onding were found inside the razed house.

Three other girls sustained minor injuries; they are believed to be Abdul Malik’s daughters Nur Ika Afmaleema and Nurattyqah while the third is their relative Afnah Tundan.

According to the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department, the three injured victims were taken to the hospital before help from the authorities arrived.

Nur’s body was discovered at around 3.27am while Abdul Malik's was found at 3.40am and Salleh’s remains were found at 4.26am.

The fire at Kg. Blok 5 in front of Onon Supermarket Pitas started around 2am and an alert was received by the Fire Department at around 2.19am.

Help arrived at 3.10am, and the fire was brought under control at 3.25am.

The charred remains of the victims were handed over to the cops after that for further investigations while firemen wrapped up their operations on site at 6.36am.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.