KOTA KINABALU (ANN/The Star) – Two individuals died as a fire consumed their residence in Kampung Limbanak, Penampang, in the early hours of Saturday.
Zeno Tingalan, the chief of Penampang Fire Station, stated that one victim, a woman, was electrocuted, a man died in the fire and another victim is reported to be missing.
“According to an eyewitness, three residents were inside the house at the time. Two victims were found dead and confirmed by medical officials. One had died from electrocution, while the other was burned beyond recognition inside the house. The third victim is still missing, with search efforts ongoing in the surrounding area,” he said.
Tingalan added that the identities and relationships of the victims are still to be established.
A group of 13 personnel, directed by operations commander Callixtus Fedilis, was dispatched to the location, approximately 5km from the station, following a distress call received at 3.26am.
They were assisted by six firefighters from the Putatan station, two detection unit personnel, a sniffer dog named Pepper, 15 police officers, and two personnel each from the Malaysian Red Crescent, Sabah Electricity, and the medical team.
“When our team arrived, the 50’ x 40’ semi-permanent house was already engulfed in flames,” Tingalan said.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control by 4.31am, and the operation was fully completed at 8.15am.
