Malaysia: Fire in impoverished village destroys 1,000 homes

Devastating blaze hits coastal community in Sabah

A devastating fire swept through a cluster of makeshift dwellings in a “water village” located in Sabah state, on Borneo island, on Sunday. The area, home to some of the country’s most vulnerable populations, including indigenous groups and stateless individuals, saw its residents forced to relocate after the flames consumed approximately 1,000 temporary shelters.

The incident began early Sunday in the Sandakan district, northeast of Sabah. Wooden stilt structures built in close proximity to one another were quickly engulfed by the inferno. Local authorities were alerted at around 01:32 a.m. (1732 GMT), according to Jimmy Lagung, the district’s fire and rescue chief. “Strong winds and the proximity of the houses accelerated the fire’s spread,” he explained. “Low tide also limited access to open water for firefighting efforts.”

“This was a very large-scale and heartbreaking incident,” said George Abd Rakman, Sandakan police chief, as reported by The Star. The blaze impacted 9,007 people, with no fatalities or injuries reported. Officials confirmed that “no more danger” exists following the containment of the fire.

The Sabah Fire and Rescue department noted that narrow access routes delayed fire engines, allowing the flames to cover 10 acres before being controlled. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasized on Facebook that federal authorities are working with local teams to deliver immediate aid and temporary housing to those affected.