SIBU: A 22-year-old individual with a disability died in a fire that destroyed 30 squatter houses in Julau.
The victim has been identified as Geruna Enchana. The blaze left 97 people from 23 families homeless.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at 11.20pm on Thursday (Decr 25) reporting a fire in Sangan, Tatau. Seven firefighters were dispatched to the scene in a fire engine and a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
According to the department, the fire affected 31 squatter houses located near SK Sangan Iban. Of those, 30 houses were completely destroyed, while one was spared.
Firefighters faced challenges reaching the fire scene, which was located across a river. They had to use a resident's longboat to transport firefighting equipment and even swim while pushing the boat to reach the opposite bank.
The male victim was found deceased at the scene around 2.36am on Dec 26. His charred remains have been handed over to the police for further investigation.
