Handicapped boy dies in fire

SIBU: An eight-year-old boy was burnt alive and more than 30 people were made homeless when fire razed two rows of wooden quarters in a Sungei Antu shipyard at around noon yesterday.

The charred body of Emati Sabat was taken out from among the ashes on the first floor after firemen had put out the fire.

The firemen believed handicapped Emati could have run to a room at the upper floor to hide after he failed to make it out.

Attempts to save him by his parents failed too.

His mother Mayan Sabar first took Emati’s two brothers aged three and five out but could not reenter the quarters to save Emati as the heat was too intense.

Shipyard worker: Fire started in a room on the first floor

His father Sabat Binai failed to enter too. The welder had been drinking before the tragedy.

He fell and injured his mouth as he ran out but was restrained by firemen when he tried to re-enter.

Relatives said Sabat was drunk and one of them slapped him on learning of Emati’s death, saying Sabat had failed in his duty as a father by drowning himself in excessive drinking.

Emati had never gone to school.

It was fortunate that his two elder brothers, aged 12 and 13, were not at home at the time of the incident.

The shipyard workers are from Kanowit, Igan River, Bintulu and other surrounding towns.

One of them said the fire started in a room on the first floor.

He said they first heard a loud explosion, followed by smoke billowing.

They then grabbed their children and ran.

As the fire spread too quickly, most of them could only salvage some belongings.

Some managed to run out with household items like gas cylinders, pillows, helmets, rice cooker, television set and valuables.

The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) dispatched 14 firemen in two engines to the scene.