Fire in Malaysia’s Sabah destroys 1,000 homes, thousands displaced

(Reuters)

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 – Thousands of people have been displaced ​after a fire destroyed around 1,000 homes ‌in a coastal village in Malaysia’s Sabah state on Borneo island on Sunday, the fire department said.

Authorities were notified ​of the fire in Sandakan district at ​around 1.32 a.m. (1732 GMT), the district’s fire ⁠and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung said in a ​statement.

“Strong winds and the close proximity of the houses ​caused the fire to spread rapidly, while low tide conditions also made it difficult to obtain an open water ​source,” Lagung said.

The fire broke out in one ​of Sabah’s water villages, which feature wooden houses built on ‌stilts ⁠and are home to some of the country’s poorest communities, including many stateless and indigenous groups.

Over 9,000 residents have been affected by the fire though ​no deaths ​have been ⁠reported, Sandakan police said, according to state news agency Bernama.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar ​Ibrahim said the federal government was ​coordinating ⁠with Sabah authorities to provide basic assistance and temporary relocation for those affected.

“The priority now is the ⁠safety ​of the victims and immediate ​assistance on the ground,” he said in a Facebook post.