PETALING JAYA: Putrajaya and the Sabah state government will allocate urgent assistance to the victims of a fire that destroyed hundreds of houses at a floating village in Sandakan early this morning.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who disclosed this, took to Facebook to express his shock upon receiving reports of the fire and the damage it had caused.
He said the federal and state governments are coordinating basic assistance and temporary accommodation as soon as possible for the victims of the fire at Kampung Bahagia, Bernama reported.
“The priority now is the safety of the victims and immediate assistance on the ground,” he was quoted as saying.
Sandakan fire and rescue station chief Jimmy Lagung said 35 firefighters from the Sandakan and Kinabatangan stations rushed to the scene after an emergency call was received at about 1.30am.
A relief centre was set up at Dewan PPR Batu Sapi at 7am to accommodate the affected residents.