Kota Kinabalu: Three children perished and 202 stilt houses were destroyed in an early morning fire at a water village settlement in Kampung Numbak here on Sunday.
The Sabah Welfare Services Department confirmed the deceased were Malaysians identified as Mohd Asrul Abdullah, 6, Nana Abdullah, 4, and Nur Farah Bilah Mohd Tajah, 8.
According to the Sabah State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN), 134 displaced residents from 40 households have been accommodated at the Likas Multipurpose Hall and Damai Hall evacuation centres as of 4pm.
Likas Multipurpose Hall was sheltering 110 victims from 34 households, while Damai Hall housed 24 victims from six households as victim registration continued.
The 1.40am blaze swept across a 260-metre by 380-metre squatter area spanning Kampung Lok Buta, Kampung Lok Poring, and Kampung Sabang Lama before being brought under control by 44 firefighters from four stations.
Preliminary observations indicated that several occupants of the settlement were non-locals, with relief centre facilities designated for affected local residents.
Authorities have also enforced control measures to prevent the erection of new structures in the squatter area while monitoring ongoing relief and post-disaster needs.
