LAWAS: An elderly man lost his life when a house located at the back of AB Motor here was engulfed in flames this morning.
The victim, identified as Dudol Karim, 89, was found dead at the scene and later handed over to the police for further action.
Two other occupants in their 30s managed to escape the blaze unharmed.
Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said a distress call was received at 4:18 am, prompting a team from the Lawas fire station to be deployed to the location, approximately two kilometres away.
“The fire involved a semi-permanent structure terrace house measuring 70 by 15 feet, which was completely destroyed in the fire,” it said in a statement today.
The team carried out extinguishing efforts using one hose line with a 200-foot lay-flat hose, while water was supplied from a tanker through an additional 100-foot hose to the fire engine.
They managed to bring the fire under control by 4:30 am, before the operation ended at 6:00 am.
Meanwhile, the cause of the fire and estimated losses are still under investigation.
