23 left homeless after four houses razed in Tanjung Tokong fire

GEORGE TOWN: Twenty-three people were left with only the clothes on their backs after four single-storey squatter houses were destroyed in a fire in Tanjung Tokong early Tuesday (March 3).

Penang Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director John Sagun Francis said the department received a distress call at 3.14am.

The first fire engine from the Bagan Jermal Fire and Rescue Station arrived seven minutes later.

"On arrival, firefighters found the blaze engulfing four houses measuring between 55 and 75 sq m, as well as a motorcycle belonging to one of the occupants," he said.

"The fire was brought under control at 3.42am to prevent it from spreading to nearby homes and was fully extinguished at about 6am, followed by overhaul works," he added.

The four houses were occupied by 23 residents – 10 men, six women and seven children – from Malay and Rohingya families.

All the occupants managed to escape safely after realising a fire had broken out, and no injuries were reported. – Bernama