PITAS - Three individuals, including a father and daughter, died when their house in Kampung Blok 5 here caught fire early this morning.
Kota Marudu Fire and Rescue Station acting chief Rantey Fred said that Abdul Malik Mad Tasin, in his 50s, his daughter, Nur Adriana Qistina Abdul Malik, 11, along with a relative, Salleh Onding, in his 60s, were killed while three other victims, all female, sustained minor injuries in fire.
"The fire involved a semi-permanent structure measuring 40 x 50 feet (12.19 x 15.24 metres) that was totally burnt down. A Perodua Kembara and Proton Waja were also totally destroyed in the fire,” he said when contacted today, adding that the three injured victims were sent to Pitas Hospital by members of the public.
He said that eight firefighters from his station, who rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call at 2.19 am, managed to bring the fire under control at 3.25 am, with operations ending at 6.36 am.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, he added.
Pitas is a district in the north of Sabah, around 174 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu. - BERNAMA