1,000 Homes Destroyed, Thousands Displaced in Malaysia Fire

A major fire broke out at approximately 1:32 a.m. on Sunday in a coastal water village in the Sandakan area of Sabah state in Malaysia on the island of Borneo.

The fire destroyed about 1,000 homes and affected more than 9,000 people, displacing thousands of residents including from poor and stateless communities.

Fire officials said the blaze spread rapidly due to strong winds and the dense clustering of wooden stilt houses. Unusually low sea levels limited access to water and hampered firefighting efforts.

No casualties have been reported from the incident.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that the federal government is coordinating with Sabah authorities to provide emergency assistance and temporary shelter, with priority on the safety of victims. The response aims to support those who lost their homes in the early morning fire that swept through the waterfront settlement.