Sibu: Gawai celebration turned bleak for 80 residents of Rumah Nyalai when they became homeless overnight after a fire destroyed their longhouse on the first day of Gawai.
According to a statement by the state Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), firemen from Sibujaya and Sungai Merah stations were deployed to the scene after they received a distress call at 8.49pm.
It is stated that the fire had engulfed 12 doors and one permanent storey of the longhouse, which was located at Jalan Dudong.
Upon arriving, they immediately carried out extinguishing works, which successfully brought the flames under control, leaving the residents unharmed.
Overhaul works were then conducted to ensure that there are no other sources of danger.
After ensuring that the situation was safe and, the teams wrapped up the operation and departed back to their stations.
