Major fire destroys Kanowit longhouse; all residents safely evacuated

Rumah Seliau, located at Sungai Tuah in Kanowit, was engulfed in flames on Monday in an incident that left the traditional communal dwelling substantially destroyed. Emergency response teams mobilized quickly to the scene following reports of the fire, which spread rapidly through the structure's multiple residential units.

The blaze consumed significant portions of the 24-door longhouse, a traditional dwelling format common throughout Sarawak where multiple family units share a common structure. Despite the intensity of the fire and the scale of structural damage, coordinated evacuation procedures meant all residents escaped the building safely without injury.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by local authorities. Longhouse fires, while not uncommon in the region, often present significant challenges due to the interconnected nature of the structures and the concentration of residents in single buildings.

District officials have indicated that support measures for displaced residents are being coordinated, though specific details regarding temporary accommodation and reconstruction assistance have yet to be finalized.