Almost 500 houses at a water village in Kampung Numbak, Sepanggar near Kota Kinabalu were destroyed in a fire last night.

Sabah Fire and Rescue public relations officer Mohd Affendy K Ramin said 50 firemen who rushed to the scene in seven trucks after receiving a distress call at 7.09pm managed to douse down the fire around 10pm.

“Most of the houses were already razed when the firemen arrived and they also had difficulty in controlling the blaze because of the proximity of the houses which were made of wood,” he told reporters in Kota Kinabalu today.

He said no casualties had been reported, while the cause of the fire and estimated loss were still being investigated.

Meanwhile, Karambunai state assemblyperson Jainab Ahmad said the People’s Development Leaders Unit and various government agencies including Kota Kinabalu City Hall, and Sepanggar Umno had rendered emergency aid such as food and basic necessities to the victims.

Jainab, who is also state Resource Development and Information Technology assistant minister, said about 2,000 victims had been temporarily relocated to the multi-purpose hall in Kampung Likas, community hall in Kampung Numbak and SK Kebagu.

- Bernama