KOTA KINABALU: On Monday afternoon, a tragic fire engulfed a home in Sabah, resulting in the death of five young children, including three belonging to a pregnant woman who was subsequently rushed to the hospital. The event has plunged the local community into sorrow.
The victims have been named as Raisa, four years old, and her younger sisters, Raidah, three, and Raina, one. Additionally, their neighbors, 14-year-old Almidah and three-year-old Siti Faridah, also lost their lives in the blaze. Their charred remains were discovered together in the bathroom of the residence.
Agustavia Joe Guasi, the Chief of the Lintas Fire and Rescue Services Department, reported that the fire broke out while the pregnant woman was coping with labor pains. “She was preparing to head to the Likas Women and Children’s Hospital when the fire broke out,” Guasi recounted, emphasizing the tragic timing of the event.
A distress call was received at 12:44 PM, prompting a quick response from 33 firefighters from Lintas, Kota Kinabalu, and Putatan stations. The fire erupted at Jalan Lembaga Padi, Lorong Burung Keleto in Likas, rapidly spreading and destroying three homes, a storeroom, and a sundry shop.
“The woman has since been taken to the hospital, where she has reportedly given birth,” Guasi added, though her personal details remain undisclosed.
In a heartrending statement, Wahid Maulan, 44, the father of the two victims, conveyed his sorrow over the tragic loss. A construction worker, he last spoke with his daughters, Siti Faridah and Almidah, the day before, having promised them some money when he returned from work in Kota Belud.
“I kissed both my daughters and asked them to pray for my job. I never imagined it would be the last time I saw them,” he reflected, filled with deep regret.
Upon receiving news of the fire, Wahid rushed back from Kota Belud, only to find the devastating truth about his daughters’ fate. “While this burden is incredibly heavy, I accept it as Allah’s will that they were taken from us so young,” he shared, struggling with the enormity of his loss.
