Fire in Sabah destroys 1,000 homes, displaces 9,000 residents
Authorities confirmed that no human casualties have been reported so far.
KATHMANDU: A massive fire broke out early Sunday morning in a coastal village in Malaysia’s northern Sabah state, destroying nearly 1,000 homes and affecting more than 9,000 residents, according to Malaysian authorities.
Sandakan district fire chief Jimmy Lagung told the Bernama news agency that the fire rapidly spread across more than four hectares.
He said firefighting efforts faced significant challenges due to the low tide conditions, which made it difficult to access sufficient open water sources.
Sandakan Municipal Council chairman Walter Kenson confirmed that the affected area has been declared a disaster zone after inspections found it unsafe for continued habitation.
According to fire officials, the blaze began at around 1:32 a.m. local time and was finally brought under control at around 12:00 noon.
Authorities confirmed that no human casualties have been reported so far.
Meanwhile, local administration has begun arranging temporary shelters for the displaced residents as emergency response efforts continue.
