7 in family killed in Membakut fire
Published on: Thursday, February 27, 2020
By:
Ahmad Apong, Jimmy Goh
BEAUFORT: Seven members of a family were killed when their rented house in Kampung Bandau, Membakut, was razed to the ground early Wednesday.
Two other members of the family – the husband and one of the couple’s sons - escaped with injures in the 1.16am incident.
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Kimanis Fire and Rescue Station Chief Mohd Johainin Ruslan said the seven comprised the mother, three sons and three girls.
“After receiving the emergency call, a team from the Kimanis Fire and Rescue Station rushed to the scene, located about 17km away, and found the wooden house was completely destroyed,” he said.
He said the victims were believed to have been trapped in the house when the fire broke out while the injured husband and son were taken to the Beaufort Hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, Beaufort District Police Chief DSP Azmir Abd Razak said the victims were identified as the 25-year-old mother Gai Nadia, and her six children, Nana Romel, 14; Aisa Romel, 13; Shasha Romel, 10; Danial Romel, seven; Faisal Romel, five; and Samasan Romel, two.
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“We found the charred bodies of the victims and believed they were trapped inside when the fire broke out as they could not open the door grille.
“From the initial information that we received, the victims were immigrants, of a Filipino (husband) and Indonesian (wife), both believed to be farmers,” he said.
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Meanwhile, a neighbour who wanted to be identified as Arianto said he noticed the fire and immediately contacted the authorities.
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