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MIRI – A huge fire swept through a longhouse in the Sg Asap Resettlement Scheme 50km from the Bakun Dam in central Sarawak this afternoon – leaving about 700 natives homeless.
The longhouse is one of 15 resettlement longhouses built about 25 years ago to house the 15,000 people uprooted by the building of the Bakun Dam.
The fire that started around 3pm destroyed about 80 housing quarters built adjacent to each other in the longhouse called Uma Sambop.
Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said fire teams rushed to the site, from Belaga town and also from as far as the Bintulu fire station which is about 250km away.
“It is estimated that about 80 houses have been destroyed in the fire and about 690 residents affected.
“However, the actual data is still unclear as fire teams are still at the site.
“So far there are no reports of casualties,” said Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department in a statement.
How the fire had started is still unclear.
The welfare authorities have been alerted and help for the victims is being arranged, it added. – The Vibes, July 12, 2022