AT least 200 homes have been destroyed in a pre-dawn fire that tore through a water village in Kampung Bahagia in Sandakan, leaving widespread devastation and prompting an ongoing firefighting operation.
Emergency crews were still working to contain the blaze into the morning, amid challenging conditions that hampered efforts to bring it under control.
Sandakan Fire and Rescue Station chief Jimmy Lagung said authorities received an emergency call at 1.32am, triggering an immediate response.
A total of 35 personnel, including reinforcements from the Kinabatangan Fire and Rescue Station, were deployed to the scene to carry out firefighting operations.
“The fire brigade faced difficulties at the scene due to the extremely narrow roads, which hindered the movement of fire engines to the fire area.
“In addition, the low tide made it difficult to obtain an open water supply,” he said when contacted.
He added that strong winds and the close proximity of houses in the settlement contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, allowing flames to engulf large sections of the village in a short period.
Authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the fire or the number of residents displaced, as efforts continue to fully extinguish the blaze and assess the extent of the damage. - April 19, 2026
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