ELDERLY WOMAN FOUND BURNT IN HOUSE FIRE

KEPALA BATAS, March 13 (Bernama) -- An elderly woman was killed after being trapped in a house fire near a chicken rice shop in Kampung Guar Kepayang today.

Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department director Mohamad Shoki Hamzah said personnel from the Kepala Batas fire station rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call at 4.59 pm.

“On arrival, the fire was raging, engulfing a 298-square-metre house, with around 70 per cent of it estimated to be destroyed.

“Firefighters were initially alerted to a person trapped inside and found the victim’s charred remains in a room at 5.55 pm. The victim’s identity has not yet been confirmed,” he said in a statement today.

He said the fire was contained by 5.40 pm, sparing nearby homes, and its cause remains under investigation.

Mohamad Shoki later identified the victim as Siti Aishah Ahamad, in her 60s, who is a person with disabilities.

"In the incident, two others sustained minor injuries. Her husband, Yaakub Aziz, also in his 60s, suffered burns on his hands while their son, Norhisham Yaakub, in his 20s, sustained burns on his legs. The couple's seven-year-old grandson managed to escape unscathed.

"It is understood that the house has seven occupants, but three of the victim's sons were out at work," he said when contacted tonight.

He said Siti Aishah's body was sent to Kepala Batas Hospital for an autopsy, and the two injured victims were taken to the same hospital.

-- BERNAMA