221 water village fire victims placed at temporary centre
PUTATAN: A temporary placement centre (PSS) was set up for 221 fire victims of Kampung Meruntum water village here on Saturday evening.
Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Shahelmy Yahya said the centre is located at the Serigai low-cost housing (PPR).
“We activated a temporary placement centre at the PPR Serigai multipurpose hall which is located near Kampung Meruntum, about half a kilometre away.
“We hope there are no casualties, although we see that there were a lot of homes involved. This is a test while we are celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri,” he said.
Shahelmy, who is also Tanjung Keramat assemblyman, said this when met at the site of the fire at Kampung Meruntum,
Saturday night.
He thanked all involved in helping the victims.
The fire left 221 people from 45 families homeless after 35 houses were burnt down.
The Putatan district disaster management secretariat, in a statement, said 62 victims had been placed at the temporary evacuation centre at Serigai People’s Housing Programme, while another PPS at Dewan Keramat had yet to receive any victims.
Of the total number of victims, 42 families were Malaysians, the secretariat said.
A total of eight agencies and 63 members were involved in the firefighting and victim assistance operation, namely the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) with 13 members, the Civil Defence Force (12) and the Sabah Welfare Services Department (11).
Also involved were Malaysia Red Crescent (10 members), Health Ministry (6), the police (5), People’s Volunteer Corps Malaysia (5), and Putatan district office (1).
The fire, which is believed to have started at 5.30pm, was brought under control at 8.01pm, but three firemen were rushed to hospital after being electrocuted while extinguishing the fire, the statement said.
A Sabah JBPM spokesman, when contacted, said the three firemen were discharged late Saturday night.
This was the second fire incident reported in Putatan. Last month, 17 houses along Jalan Lok Kawi Lama/Kampung Dumpil were destroyed by fire.
Kampung Meruntum, which has a population of about 1,795 villagers, was recently placed under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) from April 13 until April 26 after five positive Covid-19 cases were recorded.
We hope there are no casualties, although we see that there were a lot of homes involved. This is a test while we are celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Shahelmy Yahya