Sandakan declares disaster after fire destroys 28 homes on island

SANDAKAN — The Sandakan District Disaster Management Committee (JPBD) declared a fire disaster on Monday after a major blaze swept through Pulau Nunuyan Laut, destroying 28 residential structures on the island off the coast of Sabah.

The disaster declaration represents an official recognition of the severity of the incident and allows authorities to coordinate emergency response efforts and allocate resources to assist affected families. Residents who lost their homes have been identified as priorities for immediate relief assistance.

Investigations into the cause of the fire are underway. The declaration enables the authorities to activate contingency plans and engage relevant agencies in providing shelter, food, and medical support to those displaced by the disaster.

Fire officials have urged residents in the area to exercise caution and ensure proper handling of fire hazards, particularly given the vulnerability of structures in island communities where access for emergency services can be challenging. The JPBD statement emphasised the importance of fire safety awareness in densely populated residential areas.