Water no help as five die in fire

In mourning: The two surviving children of the married couple who died in the Kampung Pamah Kulat fire, Ahmad Balia Murqam (second from left) and Ruby Adalia Balqis (second from right) arriving at the Raub Hospital Forensic Unit yesterday. — Bernama

RAUB: As a fire raged in their house, a man, his wife and his daughter sought refuge in the bathroom, hiding in a tub of water to escape the flames.

It was to no avail.

The three were among five who died after the early morning fire destroyed the house in Kampung Pamah Kulat here. Two other girls were found burnt outside the house.

The dead were identified as Mohd Alawi Muhammad, 56, his wife Zaleha Adam @ Ibrahim, 44, and their three daughters, Ruby Adira Batrisya, 17, Ruby Adlina Banin, 14, and Ruby Azyan Barizah, 10.

Deadly blaze: The fire destroyed a house as well as damaged three cars and three motorcycles. — Photo courtesy of the Raub Fire and Rescue Department’s Facebook page

Two other siblings, aged 19 and 15, were not at home during the incident, as they were staying at their college and school dormitories.

It was the second time the house had been burnt down, according to a neighbour, Nor Rizan Kamaluddin, 59.

The first time was in 2014 and it was rebuilt after that.

Pahang Fire and Rescue Depart­ment director Datuk Mohd Razam Taja Rahim said the parents and one girl were found in a tub of water with burn injuries.

The two found outside were believed to have been trying to escape the two-room house.

He said the victims likely only realised that the house was on fire when it was already raging, making it difficult to escape.

“The iron grilles at the exit route also could not be opened quickly,” he said.

Neighbour Ruslah Ismail, a sundry shopkeeper, was preparing food for sahur at about 3am when she heard the screams.

“I was about to cook rice when I heard shouts,” said the 64-year-old.

“When I looked outside, the house next door was in flames.

“I woke my child and quickly took important belongings out of my house as I was afraid the fire would spread,” she said, according to Bernama.

“Mohd Alawi and his wife, who ran a food business, lived in that house for almost 10 years. They were very nice to us,” added Ruslah.

Nor Rizan said she had known the family for a long time and they had often helped her late mother.

“We are deeply saddened because we saw the victims’ children grow up. They were very kind and helpful,” she said.

The retiree, who lives about 200m away, said she was informed of the incident by a neighbour at 3.45am when the fire was still raging.

The fire destroyed the entire house and damaged three cars and three motorcycles.

Meanwhile, Majlis Amanah Rakyat chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki expressed his condolences over the tragic fire.

Ruby Adira Batrisya was a Maktab Rendah Sains Mara student awaiting her SPM results.