KUCHING – The atmosphere of the Gawai Day celebration in Sarawak was marred when a man died while five terrace houses were destroyed in two separate fire incidents that occurred in Bintulu early this morning.
According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) operations centre (PGO), the first incident last night left 21 people without homes, while another fire early this morning claimed the life of one victim
In the first incident, five single-storey terrace houses were 100% destroyed in a fire at Kidurong MLNG Housing, Jalan Abang Usop, Bintulu, last night.
The emergency call was received at 11.43pm yesterday before 18 JBPM personnel from the Kidurong Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) and Bintulu BBP managed to extinguish the fire at 6.25am today.
In the second incident, a man identified as Wong Jun Din, in his 50s was confirmed dead in a fire at a non-permanent house on Jalan Sibiew, near SJK Siong Boon at 2.32am today.
“The victim is believed to have been trapped but was successfully pulled out by other residents in an unconscious state with burn marks all over his body, before being confirmed dead by the Health Ministry medical team at the scene,” said a statement on the PGO’s official WhatsApp.
Three other occupants were reported to have survived the incident.
The cause of the fire and the total loss from both incidents are still under investigation. – June 1, 2025