Former housing ministry permanent secretary, daughter and niece perish in fire
KUCHING: A former permanent secretary to the Housing Ministry, Affendi Keli, was among three people who perished in a house fire at Lorong Bunga Tongkeng in Gita here around 7pm yesterday.
Affendi, who was also a former director at Kuching North City Hall (DBKU), was found inside the house by firefighters together with his daughter Aneeqa Pandi, 35, and niece Nor Hasyidah Ajis, 22.
The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) in a statement said a call was received on the incident at 7.03pm.
At the scene were personnel from the Petra Jaya and Batu Lintang fire stations who managed to control and contain the blaze at around 8pm.
Bomba said the firefighters were in the middle of pu ing out the fire when they were informed that there were three individuals inside the house.
“As soon as the fire was put under control, firefighters entered the house around 8.30pm by climbing a ladder via the second floor, and found one body inside a room.
“The search continued which soon led to the discovery of two more bodies, also on the second floor of the house,” it said.
All three bodies were sent by police to Sarawak General
Hospital for further action.
As of 10pm, firefighters were still trying to extinguish the fire.
Four parked cars at the house were also destroyed by the fire, while another car was partially damaged.
Also at the scene was Bomba Sarawak director Datu Khirudin Drahman and police personnel from the Gita station.
“Only the male victim (Affendi) was found to be with a bit of burn marks on his arms, most probably due to the fire debris. All three are believed to have died from smoke inhalation,” said Khirudin.
However, he said the cause of death would need to be confirmed by the hospital’s forensics department.