Longhouse blaze near Bakun Dam leaves resettled natives homeless

MIRI – A fire swept through a large longhouse block at the Sg Asap resettlement scheme in Belaga district in central Sarawak today, rendering scores of native folk homeless.

The incident at 2.30pm happened at the Block F of Uma Bakah longhouse in Sg Asap, located about 50km from Bakun Dam.

The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said in a statement that the Belaga fire station received an emergency alert and rushed its firefighters to the site.

“So far, 15 houses have been burnt,” it said. “Fast action by the volunteer firefighters managed to stop the flames from spreading to other longhouse blocks.

“There are altogether 319 families living in homes in the blocks built adjacent to each other.”

So far there are no reports of serious injuries or fatalities, the department said, adding that the fire teams are still at the site.

The cause of the blaze is still being investigated.

Sg Asap is located about 60km from Belaga town. – The Vibes, January 5, 2022