BELAGA: Fire razed four blocks of longhouses at Uma Sambop, Long Semutut near here today afternoon (July 12).
The wooden longhouses were reportedly burnt to the ground in less than half an hour, leaving some 600 villagers homeless.
A spokesman for the Fire Department operations centre said they received information from an auxiliary fireman pertaining to the blaze around 3.30pm.
Firemen from Belaga station were promptly despatched to the scene, about 69km from the station, to carry out extinguishing works.
It is understood that the journey from the fire station to Rh Uma Sambop, takes an hour and a half by road.
At the time of writing, the team could not be contacted as the location is out of range from network.
The cause of the fire and losses incurred are still under investigation.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) director Noriah Ahmad in a brief message, said preliminary information stated that the longhouse comprises 78 units (bilik).
“According to the Tuai Rumah, there are about 600 or so residents, however, our people will acquire the accurate information tomorrow (July 13).
“The department will be donating food assistance to the longhouse folk tomorrow morning,” she said today.
