Residents Forced to Jump into Sea as Fire Destroys Stilt Houses in Tawau

TAWAU: Dozens of residents of Kampung Sri Aman were forced to jump into the sea to escape a massive fire that destroyed their stilt houses and connecting walkways late on Saturday night, authorities said.

The blaze, which erupted around 11:30 p.m. at Lorong Jade 4, Jalan Apas, destroyed 30 semi-permanent stilt houses, leaving many families homeless and without their belongings.

Liny Daurong, 58, recounted the terrifying incident. She and her husband, who suffers from a chronic illness, were asleep when their son, returning from work, alerted them to the fire. “My son immediately carried his father out of the house, but I turned back as he tried to save other belongings,” Liny said. She described how the fire spread quickly, destroying the bridge leading to her home, forcing her to jump into the sea to save herself.

Liny urged the government to allow residents to rebuild their homes on the original site and provide financial assistance to help them recover.

Another victim, Janing Jamalang, 57, also fled in panic, carrying her one-month-old grandchild wrapped in her daughter’s clothing. She said the fire destroyed all her belongings, including important documents. “The flames were raging, but I am grateful my family is safe, even though we were left with only the clothes on our backs,” she said, adding that she had filed a police report regarding her losses.

Nurul Fadhilah Abdul Hamid, an officer from the Tawau Social Welfare Department, confirmed that a temporary evacuation center has been set up to accommodate displaced residents while assistance is arranged.

Authorities are assessing the full extent of the damage and coordinating aid for the affected families. The residents hope for government support in rebuilding their homes and restoring their livelihoods.