A massive fire tore through a coastal village in Malaysia’s Sabah state early Sunday, destroying 200 homes and leaving about 445 people homeless in the Sandakan district, according to reports citing local fire authorities. The blaze broke out at around 1:32 a.m. and spread quickly through tightly packed wooden stilt houses.
Officials said strong winds and the close spacing of the homes helped the flames race across the settlement, while low-tide conditions made firefighting harder. District fire and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung said those factors sharply complicated efforts to contain the blaze in the crucial early stage.
The fire left hundreds of residents scrambling for safety in the middle of the night, many losing nearly everything as their homes were reduced to ash. Reports said many of the displaced are from poor and indigenous communities, including some stateless residents, adding to the humanitarian pressure facing local authorities.
Victims have been moved to a temporary relief centre as the Sabah government and federal authorities organize emergency assistance. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government is prioritizing immediate aid and relocation support for those affected by the disaster.
The fire is the latest reminder of how vulnerable densely built coastal settlements remain to fast-moving blazes, especially when access is difficult and homes are built close together. Authorities are now expected to focus on both short-term shelter and longer-term housing support for the families left homeless.
