Major blaze destroys 250 homes
Pastor Dale Morgan
Major blaze destroys 250 homes*
From correspondents in Kuala Lumpur
February 22, 2007 04:57am
Article from: Agence France-Presse
MORE than 250 homes were destroyed and 1000 left homeless by a major
fire on Malaysia's resort island of Langkawi yesterday.
The blaze swept rapidly through squatter homes, forcing residents to
flee to safety. No injuries or casualties were reported.
Rosdi Ismail, the island's fire and rescue officer, said 55 firefighters
were sent to Bukit Malut village in the early afternoon where the flames
spread quickly between closely packed houses.
Yahya Mohamad Itam, a 34-year-old prawn seller, said he rushed home from
a nearby mosque after a friend spotted smoke billowing from the village.
He said he grabbed his wife and children and bundled up some clothes
before fleeing.
"I threw my household utensils into the sea as there was no time to take
them. Ten minutes later my house went up in smoke," Mr Yahya said.
Local police chief Mohamad Ali Jamaluddin said firefighters were
hampered by low water pressure and narrow pathways which made it
difficult to contain the blaze.
This is the second major fire at the village where 120 houses were
destroyed in 2005, the official Bernama news agency said.
Mansor Ismail, Langkawi district chief said a local school has been
converted as a relief centre to house the victims.