Aidilfitri joy turns to sorrow as fire destroys two Kg Babu houses

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Firefighters work to put out the fire at one of the affected houses.

KUCHING (May 14): It was a bleak first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri for villagers in Kampung Babu, Betong when a fire broke out and destroyed two houses there around 11pm last night.

The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said in a statement an occupant of one of the houses, a 27-year-old male, also suffered burns to his back.

However, the extent of the victim’s injuries were unclear but he had sought treatment at a nearby clinic.

According to the department, the fire affected three houses, completely destroying one house with an area of 83.6 square metres.

The second house, which measured around 140 square metres, was 50 per cent damaged, while the third house, measuring 83.6 square metres, only suffered 5 per cent damage.

Besides the injured man, the other six occupants of the first house  — four adults and two boys aged 13 and six — managed to escape without sustaining any injuries.

The occupants of the second and third house, five adults and three children, also managed to escaped unscathed.

The fire was put under control at 12.20am, while the whole operation ended at 1.40am.

At the scene were firefighters from the Betong fire station, who had to travel around 40km to get to the village.