Families displaced after devastating fire in Kampung Hilir in Sibu

SIBU (Sept 23): Zuliana Rapaee, 54, whose house in Kampung Hilir here was burned down for the third time, accepted her family’s fate.

Zuliana is one of the 156 victims who lost their homes when 17 houses were engulfed in flames in Kampung Hilir last night.

She stated that the first fire occurred in 1992, and the second in 2003.

“In the second fire, I was grateful to receive assistance from the Housing Programme for Hardcore Poor (PPRT), which greatly alleviated my burden at that time.

“Now, I can only surrender to Allah S.W.T to ease my journey in rebuilding the house that has been completely destroyed this time,” she told Utusan Borneo.

Zuliana said at the time of the incident, she and her children were not at home as they were renting another house nearby. She explained that her burned house was still under repairs.

“We couldn’t save anything due to the fire spreading rapidly,” she lamented.

Retiree, Abu Bakar Junit, 55, believed that the fire started around Maghrib.

“I was at home about to pray, when I smelled something burning. The fire spread rapidly due to the winds, and we could not salvage our belongings,” he told The Borneo Post and Utusan Borneo, when met at the temporary shelter in Surau Darul Ma’wa in Kampung Baru here today.

Abu Bakar’s two-storey wooden house housed 12 people.

“I’m deeply saddened, but at the same time, I am very thankful that all my family members managed to escape to safety. That’s the most important thing.

“My elder sister’s son is sitting for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) today, and lost all his clothes in the fire.”

He recalled living in this house since he was young.

Abu Bakar mentioned that there were two previous fire incidents in this area, but this time, his house was not spared.

Newly-wed Ismail Ahmad, 38, said he rushed from Sibujaya upon learning that his grandmother’s house in Kampung Hilir caught fire.

“I received a call around 6pm informing that my grandmother’s house caught fire and reached the scene around 7pm due to traffic congestion.

“By then, the entire two-storey wooden house was engulfed in flames.”

He estimated his grandmother’s ancestral home to be over 100 years old.

At the time of writing, it is estimated that about 69 people are staying temporarily at Surau Darul Ma’wa in Kampung Baru here.

The Fire and Rescue Department Zone 4 chief Andy Alie in a statement today, said the fire in Kampung Hilir last night destroyed 17 houses, affecting approximately 156 residents.

“There were no fatalities or injuries,” he added.

He said the close location of houses and strong winds caused the fire to spread quickly.

Andy said the cause of the fire is still under investigation and the total value of losses have yet to be established.