21 families left homeless in Kota Marudu stall fire
KOTA KINABALU: Eighty people from 21 families on Sunday were left homeless in a fire involving 21 stalls at Kampung Tonson, Kota Marudu, about 131 kilometres from here.
Kota Marudu District Police chief Supt Mohd Izaan Abdullah said the victims comprising 32 men, 29 women, four boys and 13 girls as well as one male and one female toddlers had been living at the stalls.
“They are temporarily sheltered at Dewan Kampung Tonson and provided assistance by the Social Welfare Department, he said in a statement yesterday.
He said initial investigations found that the fire started at one of the stalls.
“There is no loss of life or injury. The losses have not been estimated,” he said, adding that firefighters managed to douse the flames by 9.45pm.
Mohd Izaan said Kota Marudu member of parliament Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili had visited the site and met with the victims.
Sabah Fire and Rescue Services Department public relations officer Mohd Affendy K Ramli said the department received a distress call at 8.21 pm.
Two fire trucks from the Kota Marudu fire station were immediately deployed to the location some 10 kilometres away, and the fire was brought under control by 9.46pm.
According to Affendy, the number of shop lots involved and total losses have yet to be determined.
The cause of fire is being investigated, while no casualty was recorded.
The roadside stalls selling snacks like homegrown peanuts, near Simpang Tiga Langkun in Kota Marudu, were very popular with motorists and visitors from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat or Kota Marudu.