TAWAU: The fire which destroyed 700 squatter houses at Kg Kurnia Jaya, Mile 4 Jalan Apas, on Thursday, is the worst yet as it involved the size of four to six football fields.
Raman Kalluman, 34, his wife Nurasmah Adam, 35, and their five children, aged one to 13, were left with nowhere to go but the Kg Hidayat Multipurpose Hall, where they were joined by other fire victims.
“Our older children are fine, except for our youngest, who is constantly weeping due to discomfort,” Nurasmah said.
Everything went up in flames, she added, including supplies to prepare for the fasting month, with the exception of the family’s important documents, which she managed to save. The fire at its peak.
Nevertheless, she is grateful that no one was hurt. Raman, a bus driver, hopes for better shelter, including mobile toilet facilities for fire victims at fire relief centres.
It is understood that four temporary fire relief centres have been opened – Dewan Kg Kinabutan Kecil, Dewan Kg Kurnia Jaya, Dewan Sri Balung and Dewan Serbaguna Banggu, while Dewan Serbaguna Kg Hidayat is used for fire victim registration.
Firefighters fought the blaze for five hours before bringing it under control at 9.37 p.m.
Tawau Fire and Rescue Station Chief Julius John Stephen Jr said 23 firemen were dispatched to the location following a 4.45 pm distress call.
Firefighters from Semporna Fire and Rescue Station, as well as the Kg Titingan Fire and Rescue Community, were on hand to help. Altogether, 56 firefighters were dispatched to the area, according to him.
The marine police, Malaysian Civil Defence Force, and Rela all aided the team.
The cause of the fire and the estimated loss is still being probed.
Meanwhile, Tawau MP Datuk Christina Liew announced RM10,000 cash relief and food aid for more than 1,300 residents of Kg Kurnia Jaya who lost their homes.
She made the announcement during a visit to the site, Friday. She said the Tawau Parliamentary People’s Service Centre has set up a temporary clinic near the site in collaboration with Permai Polyclinics Tawau which is offering free health screening to the victims.
Liew urged the Government to give priority to the now homeless residents of Kg Kurnia Jaya in its People’s Housing Programme or Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) this year.
“I will be writing to the Government on behalf of the people. The time has come for them to be settled in permanent homes, instead of continuing to live in temporary homes on stilts which are prone to fires,” she said.
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