A devastating blaze swept through a waterfront community in Malaysia’s Sabah state early Sunday, leaving hundreds of residents homeless after approximately 200 houses were consumed by flames.
Emergency responders received the initial alert about the fire in Sandakan district at approximately 1:32 a.m. local time (1732 GMT), according to district fire and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung, as reported by Malaysia’s state news service Bernama.
“Strong winds and the close proximity of the houses caused the fire to spread rapidly, while low tide conditions also made it difficult to obtain an open water source,” Lagung explained to Bernama.
The devastating incident occurred in one of Sabah’s traditional water villages, where wooden structures are constructed on stilts above the water. These communities typically house some of Malaysia’s most economically disadvantaged residents, including indigenous populations and people without official citizenship status.
Preliminary counts show that approximately 445 individuals have been forced from their homes, based on registration numbers at a temporary emergency shelter established in Sandakan, according to Bernama’s reporting.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that federal officials are working alongside Sabah regional authorities to deliver essential aid and temporary housing solutions for displaced families.
“The priority now is the safety of the victims and immediate assistance on the ground,” Ibrahim wrote in a social media post on Facebook.
