A burned mattress inside the fourth-floor rental room where a fire broke out behind RHB Bank along Jalan Repok in Sarikei, resulting in the death of a 31-year-old woman on Jan 18, 2026. Photo credit: Bomba

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by DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Jan 19: A 31-year-old woman died after a fire broke out in a fourth-floor rental room of a shoplot along Jalan Repok in Sarikei yesterday evening (Jan 18).

The Sarikei Fire and Rescue Station received an emergency call at 4.51pm. Fire engines arrived at the scene three minutes later, with firefighting operations beginning at 4.55pm.

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According to operations commander PBK I Unjah Jangau, the fire involved a single rental room measuring about 20 by 15 feet and caused approximately 60 per cent damage.

“The room was located on the fourth floor of the building and was used as a rental unit,” he said in a Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) statement.

During the operation, firefighters found an adult female unconscious in the bathroom of the affected room. Medical personnel from the Ministry of Health Malaysia (KKM) later confirmed her death at the scene.

The victim was identified as Priscilla Ida Francis, 31.

The fire was brought under control at 6.35pm, and the operation ended at 7.55pm after overhaul works were carried out to ensure there were no remaining sources of fire or smoke.

The body was handed over to the police at around 7pm for further investigation. — DayakDaily