FIRE RAZES KLANG SQUATTER HOMES
The blaze spread so fast that villagers could save only themselves
MORE than 50 people from at least 10 families in Kampung Sungai Udang here were left with only the clothes on their backs when their squatter houses were razed in a 6.30pm blaze yesterday.
At least 80 per cent of the victims were Muslims, who also lost everything they had prepared to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which falls in fewer than 10 days.
Village Security Committee (JKKP) head Mohammad Nor Kasim said the fire spread so quickly that most of the villagers could only run to save themselves, leaving their belongings and valuables behind.
He said a team of the village’s fire squad tried to put out the fire in its early stages using fire extinguishers, but the effort proved futile.
Villager Mohd Zin Md Baharum, 51, who works as a supervisor at a bulk distributor, said he lost everything, including clothes for Hari Raya he had bought for his wife, son and himself, as well as RM10,000 cash he recently withdrew to pay for house renovations.
Zin said he had just returned from work when he saw the fire spreading, and could only help his neighbours flee.
Businessman Mohamad Ishak, 24, and his cousin, 15, also lost their belongings, including secondhand furniture for his business and items he had prepared for his wedding in August.
“I was selling pulut panggang at the Ramadan bazaar when I learnt about the blaze.
“When I reached the warehouse I used to store secondhand furniture, the blaze had engulfed it. I couldn’t save anything, including my Perodua Viva.”
Mohamad’s cousin, Mohamad Phamy Mohd Soleh, who studies at a school for orphans nearby, said he was sleeping when he heard people telling villagers to save themselves.
B. Vigneswaran, 23, said he was taking a shower when he heard noises, and found out that his neighbours’ houses were on fire.
“I only had a towel on, and managed to take only my trousers, Tshirt and sling bag, before getting my fiancee and mother out of the house.”
The lorry driver’s assistant said he also took a neighbour’s infant to safety.
“The situation was chaotic, and everyone was panicking. I realised that my neighbour’s son was in his house, and grabbed him before handing him to his mother,” he said.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Mohd Sani Harul said they received a call about the incident at 6.32pm, and dispatched 33 firemen to the scene.
The number of firemen was increased when backup was sent.
Sani said the firemen stopped the fire from spreading at 7.49pm.
As of 10.30pm, firemen were working to put out the blaze.