SUNGAI PETANI, 7 Nov 2017:
Five persons died and one sustained serious injuries in a fire that razed four wooden houses at Kampung Sungai Gelugor, Taman Petani Jaya near here, early today.
Kedah Fire and Rescue senior assistant commissioner Abdul Razak Muda said 14 personnel led by an officer were at the scene within five minutes following a distress call at 4.11am.
“When they arrived, 90% of the houses had been destroyed, and we believe one of the victims is a child from the size of the body.”
As of 8am, the team and 41 volunteer firefighters were still at the scene to fully extinguish the fire, he said.
He said the identities of the victims were being ascertained and investigations on the estimated losses were ongoing.
The number of flood victims in Kedah as at 8am stands at 982, compared to 2,337 last night.
State Civil Defence director Lt Col (CD) Mohd Zul Khairi Shamsuddin said the number might go down further as the weather improves, enabling the residents to return to their homes.
All 271 families are being sheltered at 15 evacuation centres in Kuala Muda, Yan, Kulim, Baling, Bandar Baharu and Pendang.
In Kuala Muda, nine centres are still operating, at Dewan Kampung Bukit Belah Batu Dua (nine people), Dewan Taman Bedong Jaya (15) and Taman Malinja surau (15).
Other centres are Kampung Jawa surau (10), Dewan Kampung Bujang (86), Dewan Kampung Sungai Pial (174), Kampung Jilid 4/5 surau (61), Dewan Taman Setia Budi (61) and Kampung Lebai Ali surau (nine).
In Kulim, two centres are open – at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Merbau Pulas (121) and Teluk Bina surau (42).
One centre is operating in Yan, at Kampung Kepala Bukit surau (79); one in Baling, at Masjid Kuala Bakong (114); one in Pendang, at Dewan Seminar (156); and one at SK Selama in Bandar Baharu (30).
To date, 29 centres have been closed.
– Bernama