55 homeless in Tawau blaze
Published on: Sunday, January 31, 2016
Tawau: About 500 people were made homeless after some 80 houses were razed at Kg Airport Lama around 9.20am, Saturday.The biggest fire recorded in the district this year was the fifth at the squatter settlement after 1987, 1989, 2006 and 2010.One of the victims, Nordin Kasim, 52, who had been living there with his family said, he had yet to decide whether he should stop staying there.
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"We were given housing assistance at PPR Taman Semarak but I have not decided (to move there) because all my family members are (living) here," he said.Another victim, Rahim Tanri, 29, said he was alone at home when he heard noises outside, which he first thought were children fighting."However, I was shocked and ran out after I saw our house roof on fire. I failed to save anything because the heat was too intense," said Rahim who was living with his sister's family.His sister, Darti Tanri, 38, who is heavily pregnant said she rushed back home after learning of the fire that went viral on WhatsApp but only managed to see their balcony as the whole house was already destroyed by then.
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She went out at 9am to send her husband to his workplace at Mile 3 and only her brother was at home."The fire originated two houses away. I could not do anything or save anything except for our documents which I had brought along with me," said the Tawau Temporary Detention Centre (PTS) staff, adding that she had been living there since 1990.
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Meanwhile, Tawau Zone Fire and Rescue Department Chief, Ismaidi Ismail said six fire engines and 27 officers and personnel were deployed to the scene after being alerted at 9.41am."Our engines reached the scene at 9.44am and immediately commenced operations."We faced water source problems due to absence of properly functioning fire hydrants at the squatter area and were forced to get water from the nearby school and mosque as well as from open sources from Taman Awam," he said.They managed to control the fire at 11.10am and the cause and total loss are still under investigation."Luckily no casualties were reported except a woman in her 50s who was rushed to the hospital by our Emergency Response Services (EMRS) vehicle after experiencing breathing difficulty. "We also could not save a recently purchased Hyundai car because it was too close to the fire and there was no water supply at that time," he said.Ismaidi said, their operation was also assisted by police, Malaysian Civil Defence Department (JPAM), Rela, ambulance and Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB).He reminded the public to be extra careful especially during the El Nino weather conditions."Do not start any open burning because a little negligence will cause a big fire," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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