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More than 150 houses were destroyed in the Likas fire near Kota Kinabalu
A thick smoke could be seen miles away, at the height of the fire
KOTA KINABALU: More than 500 people homeless after a fire had swept a squatter area in Likas, near here today,
It was believed that the fire had begun around 2 pm at Kg Cenderamata Dua, about 10 minutes drive from the city center.
seen from miles away at the height of the fire.
Hamsa Isnurdini, Zone 1 Chief of Sabah Fire and Rescue, said he received a distress call at 2:17 pm Six fire trucks, with 42 people, were transported to the area.
Firefighters took nearly two hours to control the fire. He was finally mastered at 15:02, he said.
The villagers were forced to abandon their homes as the fire swept the squatter area.
It is estimated that more than 150 homes were destroyed in the fire. ] A villager is seen recovering his tank of gasoline while the fire is raging behind him.
"No deaths have been reported and investigations are underway to establish the cause of the fire," Hamsa said.
The village is one of the many squatter areas that can be found on the outskirts of the city.
