Three Buddhist nuns perished in a predawn fire that razed a temple and several homes in Kuala Lumpur, a city fire official said.

The still-unidentified charred remains were recovered in the bathroom of the temple in Setapak, according to fire department assistant director Azizan Ismail.

He said the victims, who were believed to be elderly and lived in the temple, were trapped inside their room and sought refuge in the bathroom where they died.

Authorities were still investigating the cause of the fire.

- dpa