A massive fire erupted early Sunday in a "water village" in the Sandakan district of Sabah state on Borneo island, Malaysia, destroying approximately 1,000 makeshift homes and displacing an estimated 9,007 residents. The area is inhabited by some of Malaysia's poorest communities, including indigenous and stateless populations, who live in tightly packed wooden stilt houses built over water, highlighting ongoing socio-economic vulnerabilities in the region.

Authorities were alerted to the fire at around 01:32 a.m. local time (17:32 GMT), according to district fire and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung. The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department deployed 37 personnel from two stations to combat the blaze. Lagung stated that strong winds and the close proximity of the houses caused the fire to spread rapidly, while low tide conditions hampered access to open water sources for firefighting efforts, exacerbating the challenge.

Sandakan police chief George Abd Rakman described the incident as a "very large-scale and heartbreaking event" in comments to the local English daily The Star. The fire department estimated that 10 acres were affected, with fire engines struggling to reach the impacted areas in time due to narrow access routes. Despite the scale of destruction, no injuries or fatalities were reported, and the department declared that there was "no more danger" after the fire was brought under control.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced in a Facebook statement that the federal government is coordinating with local authorities in Sabah to provide immediate assistance and temporary accommodation to those affected. He emphasized that "the priority now is the safety of victims and immediate assistance on the ground." The disaster underscores infrastructure deficiencies and the precarious living conditions faced by marginalized communities in Sabah, raising questions about long-term support and disaster preparedness in the area.

Source: www.dw.com