Fire Destroys 200 Homes in Sabah Water Village

A massive fire swept through a coastal water village in Malaysia's Sabah state early Sunday, destroying around 200 wooden stilt homes and displacing 445 residents, authorities reported. The blaze, which broke out in the Sandakan district, left hundreds of people from some of the country's poorest communities homeless, with no injuries or fatalities recorded.

Emergency services were alerted to the fire at approximately 1:32 a.m. local time, according to Jimmy Lagung, the district's fire and rescue chief. Firefighters from two stations, totaling 37 personnel, responded to the scene, but the flames spread rapidly due to strong winds and the close proximity of the structures. Low tide conditions further complicated efforts by limiting access to open water sources for firefighting, while narrow pathways prevented fire engines from reaching the site directly. The department estimated the fire engulfed a total area of several acres, reducing the homes to ashes.

The affected village consists of traditional houses built on stilts over the water, a common feature in Sabah's coastal areas. These communities often house low-income families, including indigenous groups and stateless...