Kota Kinabalu: A girls' dormitory on the third floor of the SMK Tandek hostel block in Kota Marudu was razed, Thursday. It was learnt that none of the 112 female students who stayed on the affected floor of the Aspuri Block were hurt in the fire that started at 9.22am. Students and teachers were not able to salvage anything as the fire spread quickly across the floor.
ADVERTISEMENT
State Education Department Director Maimunah Suhaibul, who visited the site, estimated losses at RM431,895. She said early action taken by the school was to gather all the female students at the hall and doing a head count to ensure everyone was safe.
"Some of the students went home with their parents who came to fetch them, while the others put up at untenanted units at the teachers' quarters," she said. She assured that the school will look into the student's welfare and ensure they have shelter.
ADVERTISEMENT
She also spent time talking to the parents and students to calm the situation. Meanwhile, a team from the Kota Marudu Fire and Rescue Department led by Asran Asip arrived at the scene some 13 kilometres away after being alerted at about 9.26am.
ADVERTISEMENT
They were assisted by the Tingkalanon Fire and Rescue Volunteer team and managed to put the fire out at about 11.50am. Police and paramedics were also at the scene to assist. The cause of fire was still being probed at press time. At least five schools were razed in 2014, namely SK Pekan Kiulu, SK Gadong Beaufort, SK Tempasak Kinarut Papar, SK Simpangan Kota Marudu and SK Penambawan in Tuaran. Textbooks, computers and learning equipment were among property damaged however nobody was reported in all the incidents.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
In a separate incident, two houses and a Kancil car in Kg. Kapalit, Jalan Labak in Kinarut, Papar was razed on Thursday. Nobody was reported hurt in the fire which was brought under control by a team led by Dunstan Peter.
