KUCHING: Twenty-two families were made homeless after an evening fire gutted their longhouse at Kampung Sekubang, Batu Kawa Lama on Monday (Aug 9).
No human casualty or injury were reported at the time of writing as all of the residents managed to get to safety.
When the State Fire Department received a distress call about the fire at 7.25pm, the caller said the 21-door longhouse was already about 30 percent destroyed.
However, the longhouse, which is about 150 feet, was completely gutted by the time the firemen arrived.
Firemen from Batu Lintang and Petra Jaya station could not get their trucks because the road is too narrow.
Eighty of the residents managed to escape to safety but all their belongings could not be saved as the fire spread rapidly.
According to Tan Kai, political secretary to the Chief Minister, all the fire victims will be sheltered temporarily at Batu Kawa Min Lit Secondary School. Government agencies such as the Social Welfare Department (JKM) and others will be notified of the incident for the processing of welfare aid.
The cause of the fire and losses incurred have yet to be ascertained.
