ALBAWABA - A huge fire erupted in Malaysia, destroying at least 200 houses and displacing over 400 people in a coastal village in Sabah state on Sunday, state news agency Bernama reported.
Approximately 445 people have been displaced by the fire, Bernama mentioned, citing unofficial figures of people registered at a temporary relief centre in Sandakan.
Authorities received a report about the fire in Sandakan district at around 1.32 a.m., the district's fire and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung told Bernama. He mentioned that the strong wind led to the rapid spread of the fire.
The Malaysian village also features wooden homes placed on stilts. It is also a home to some of the country's poorest communities, including many stateless and indigenous groups.
Lagung said, "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."
Putrajaya and the Sabah state government will help provide urgent assistance to the victims of the fire.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Additionally, there were no reports of casualties from the fire, as no official statement had been made yet.
