Firemen and police personnel carrying out investigations at the scene of the fire.
KOTA KINABALU: An elderly couple and their son were killed in a fire that destroyed their house in Menumbok in the wee hours yesterday.
Sabah Fire and Rescue Department here yesterday confirmed that Yamal Suhud, 80, his 70-year-old wife Saadah Mumin and the couple’s 45-year-old son, believed to physically handicapped, perished in the 1am blaze at Kampung Junkon.
The department operations chief Khatizah Rahaban said the three victims were sound asleep when their wooden house caught fire.
She said the remains of the deceased had been sent to the hospital for post-mortem.
Investigations are being conducted on the cause of the fire, and whether the couple has any other children.
Khatizah said the department received a distress call at about 1.20 am and immediately despatched a fire engine with five personnel from the Kuala Penyu fire station to the scene, located about 45 kilometres away .
When the firemen arrived there the house was already engulfed in flames, she said, adding the firemen managed to bring the fire under control at 2.16 am.
“Our fire personnel found the charred remains of all the victims between 2.24 am and 4.30 am after the fire was brought under control.
“Two bodies were found near the main door and the third inside a room,” she explained.
Meanwhile, the police also deployed a team to the scene to investigate.