KOTA KINABALU: Two people were killed when a fire engulfed their home in Kampung Limbanak, Penampang, in the early hours of Saturday.
Penampang Fire Station chief Zeno Tingalan said one of the victims, a woman, was electrocuted, while one man died in the fire and the third victim is reported to be missing.
“According to an eyewitness, three residents were inside the house at the time. Two victims were found dead and confirmed by medical officials.
“One had died from electrocution, while the other was burned beyond recognition inside the house. The third victim is still missing, with search efforts ongoing in the surrounding area,” he said.
Tingalan added that the identities and relationships of the victims have yet to be determined.
A team of 13 personnel, led by operations commander Callixtus Fedilis, was dispatched to the scene, about 5km from the station, after a distress call was received at 3.26am.
They were assisted by six firefighters from the Putatan station, two detection unit personnel, a sniffer dog named Pepper, 15 police officers, and two personnel each from the Malaysian Red Crescent, Sabah Electricity, and the medical team.
"When our team arrived, the 50’ x 40’ semi-permanent house was already engulfed in flames," Tingalan said.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control by 4.31am, and the operation was fully completed at 8.15am.
