At least 200 houses were destroyed in a massive fire that broke out at a water village in Kampung Bahagia, Sandakan, in the early hours of the morning.
Firefighting operations were still ongoing at the scene as of this morning, with crews working tirelessly to bring the situation under control. The scale of the destruction has raised concerns over fire safety in densely built settlements.
Sandakan Fire and Rescue Station Chief, Jimmy Lagung, said authorities received an emergency call at 1.32am. A total of 35 personnel, including reinforcements from the Kinabatangan Fire and Rescue Station, were immediately dispatched to the location.
He said firefighters faced significant challenges during the operation due to the narrow access routes, which hindered the movement of fire engines into the affected area. Such limitations are often a major obstacle in emergency responses within water village communities.
In addition, low tide conditions made it difficult for crews to obtain open water sources, further complicating firefighting efforts. Strong winds and the close proximity of the houses also caused the fire to spread rapidly.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the incident while efforts to fully extinguish the fire remain ongoing.
