Seven terrace houses gutted by fire

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KOTA KINABALU: The seven units of double-storey terrace houses at Taman Everlick, Jalan Kobusak were gutted by fire yesterday.

The fire was believed to have broke out at one of the units about 9.30am and spread to the other units.

One of the victims, Chen Yien King, 11, said he was on the upper floor of his house when he smell something burning.

“When I looked through the window, I saw thick smoke coming from my neighbour’s house and the fire was spreading towards to my house.

“I screamed and rushed downstairs to alert my mother who was at the kitchen,” he said, adding they then alerted all their neighbours.

Another boy, Chee Oi Wen, 15, said he and his brother only managed to save several items, including a television and important documents.

Penampang fire station chief Jamaludin Hussin said they received a distress call about 9.40am and sent 26 personnel from Kota Kinabalu fire station.

He said that when they reached the scene, the upper floor of the seven units were already destroyed.

Jamaludin said the fire was brought under control about 10.25am and the operation ended at about 11.17am.

“The fire was believed to have started from a middle unit among the affected houses. Due to the incident, about 24 occupants of the houses suffered losses amounting to about RM600,000,” he said, adding that the cause of the fire was still under investigation.