KOTA KINABALU: In the confusion to flee an early morning fire in Kampung Lok Buta, Numbak here, family members of the three children who were killed did not realise the deceased had not escaped the blaze.
M. Nasir Jalani, 68, the grandfather of the three victims, said he woke up when he heard one of his children screaming that a neighbour's house was on fire.
"After learning that my house could not be saved, I ran out. I ran back inside but the children were not there. If I knew they were in the room, perhaps I could have saved them," he said when met at the scene on Sunday (Aug 30).
Nasir said he his three grandchildren were staying in his house a few days ago to celebrate the wedding of one of his children.
He said the family only realised the three children were missing after they reached a safe area.
More than 200 houses were destroyed and three children, including two siblings, lost their lives in the early morning fire.
They victims were identified as Nana Abdullah, four, her brother Mohd Asrul Abdullah, six, and their cousin Nurfarahdilah Mohd Tajihah, eight.
Meanwhile, Roslani Ladin, 65, said he managed to rescue more than 10 family members with his boat.
Roslani, a fisherman, said he made several trips to move his family to safety as the fire had yet to spread to his house at the time, although it was eventually destroyed in the blaze. – Bernama
