NEIGHBOUR HEARS SCREAMS AS FIRE KILLS FIVE

RAUB, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- A sundry shopkeeper heard screams coming from a neighbouring house where five family members perished in a fire in Kampung Pamah Kulat, near here, early this morning.

Ruslah Ismail, 64, said she heard screams while preparing food for sahur at about 3 am.

“I had already woken up and was about to cook rice. After that, I heard screams twice.

“When I looked at the house next door, the fire was already raging. I woke up my child who was sleeping and quickly took important belongings out of the house because I was afraid the fire would spread,” she said when met at the scene.

She said the intensity of the blaze left her shocked and panicked.

According to her, firemen arrived at about 4.15 am.

“The husband and wife ran a food business and had lived in that house for almost 10 years. They were indeed very good to us,” she said.

The house owner, Nor Rizan Kamaluddin, 59, said the house was built after the original house located next to the scene was destroyed in a fire in 2014. 

Nor Rizan said the incident had also affected her as she had known the family for a long time and they had often helped her late mother, who lived next door to the family.

“They had rented the house for a long time. We were truly shocked and deeply saddened because we saw the victims’ children grow up before our eyes. 

“They were very kind and helpful. When my mother was still around, if she needed anything, they would help contact our family,” she said.

The retiree said she was informed of the incident by a neighbour and arrived at the scene, located about 200 metres from her home, at 3.45 am when the fire was still raging.

Pahang Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Mohd Razam Taja Rahim said that firefighters arrived at the scene at 4.15 am and brought the blaze under control about 30 minutes later.

 He said the fire destroyed 100 per cent of the house structure and damaged three cars and three motorcycles.

-- BERNAMA