123 homeless as blaze razes Sekuau longhouse
A pre-dawn fire destroyed a 22-door longhouse at Sekuau rese lement scheme along KM45 Jalan Oya in Sibu, rendering 123 residents homeless.
SIBU: A pre-dawn fire destroyed a 22- door longhouse at Sekuau resettlement scheme along KM45 Jalan Oya here, rendering 123 residents homeless.
The incident at Rumah Dingun Megong came to light when a distress call was made to the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) at 3.26am, informing of the situation.
“Personnel from the Sungai Merah and Central fire stations were immediately deployed to the scene, but the longhouse was already razed to the ground by the time firefighters arrived. The fire was brought under control at 5.05am and extinguished at 6.45am,” said a spokesperson.
The spokesperson added there were no injuries or casualties reported amongst the residents, who are currently placed at the Sekuau community hall. The cause of the fire is being investigated, while total losses have yet to be ascertained.
SIBU: The 22 families from the gutted Rh Dingun Megong here will get temporary houses built through ‘ gotong- royong’ ( work party), says Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira.
The 22- door longhouse at Sekuau resettlement scheme in KM45, Oya Road here was destroyed in a pre- dawn fire yesterday.
Gira said: “This is the first case of longhouse fire for Selangau this year. I have asked the community leaders, government offices and agencies to look into the immediate assistance for the victims such as food, water, milk powder for their children and clothing besides providing temporary shelter at the multipurpose hall in Sekuau.
“I will work with selected supplier to arrange for building materials to construct the temporary houses by ‘ gotong royong.”
He revealed that the rest of assistance will be discussed further upon receiving feedback from the agencies and those involved.
Meanwhile, Sibu Resident Charles Siaw said the hall can accommodate up to more than 200 people.
Siaw pointed out that Selangau district officer Inting Nyami along with Penghulu Andrewson Ngalai were on site to facilitate the matter and check on the fire victims.