KOTA KINABALU – Some 200 Gaya Island villagers escaped late last night as their homes in Kg Lok Urai were destroyed in a blaze.
More than 20 houses caught fire in the 8pm incident and later spread to consume another 53 houses in the water village.
There were no casualties in the incident.
The Fire and Rescue Department said a distress call was received at 8.23pm and a team from the Kota Kinabalu, Lintas and Penampang fire stations rushed to the location by boats.
“The fire could only be brought under control about 10.16pm and was completely doused at 12.37am,” a department spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Kota Kinabalu Mayor Noorliza Awang Alip said three temporary shelters have been opened in Sembulan, Likas and Damai here.
“The Damai shelter will serve as a backup and victims will only be placed there if needed.
“I was made to understand that some of them found shelter with other family members.” – The Vibes, March 12, 2021
Situasi terkini di Kampung Lok Urai, Pulau Gaya pic.twitter.com/jz9d6Spxx3
— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) March 12, 2021
