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KEMAMAN authorities and local educators were left shaken but relieved after a fire broke out at Pasti Raudhatul Athfal, an Islamic preschool near Kemaman, early this morning.
Fifty children were safely evacuated, thanks to the swift actions of staff members.
Nur Amyrah Salihah Mohd Yusoff, 28, a teacher at the centre, recounted the tense moments.
“I, together with the other teachers, rushed to get everyone out and save their lives,” she said. “I am grateful that all 50 children at the centre were safe during the fire, which broke out at 10 a.m.”
She described the chaotic scene as thick smoke and flames engulfed the upper floor, where four classrooms were located.
“At the time, 46 pupils aged four to six were having breakfast after completing their Quran lessons and prayers. I was in the kitchen when residents passing by alerted us that the upper floor was on fire.
“The upper floor was filled with dense smoke, and the flames were spreading to other areas. Together with three other teachers, we led the children to safety.
“Thankfully, all the students were on the lower floor at the time.”
The fire destroyed all books and furniture in the affected classrooms, forcing the school to temporarily close.
Firefighters from the Kemaman and Chukai stations responded swiftly. Penolong Penguasa Bomba Saariah Hassan, the operation commander, stated, “We received the emergency call at 10.08 a.m.
Eighteen firefighters rushed to the scene and began extinguishing the blaze. The semi-permanent building was estimated to be 70 per cent destroyed, but we managed to control the fire within 15 minutes to prevent it from spreading further.”
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, while the preschool focuses on recovery and planning for the safe return of its pupils. - November 16, 2025