Longhouse fire kills disabled woman, injures her mother

BINTULU: A disabled woman was killed in a fire that struck Rumah Chandi at Sungai Tau in Selangau on Sunday night.

It is learnt that the woman, aged 43, and her mother, aged 80, were the only ones at the 22unit longhouse at the time of the incident – all of the other 300 residents were attending a funeral at a longhouse nearby.

The 80-year-old woman survived the fire, but sustained burns on her back and arms.

Firefighters from Tatau Fire and Rescue Department rushed to the site, located about 60km from the station, after receiving an emergency call at 8.25pm.

The police personnel and members of the Civil Defence Force arrived at the longhouse later.

At 11.05pm after having brought the situation under control, the firefighters found the charred remains of the woman in one of the longhouse units.

The flames were fully extinguished at 2.40am.

The case is under investigation.

Photo shows what is left of Rumah Chandi, which was razed by fire on Sunday night.

Police personnel place the body into a van, bound for Sibu Hospital mortuary.