Massive fire devastates Sabah water village

A massive blaze swept through Kampung Bahagia, a coastal water village in Sandakan, Sabah, destroying about 1,000 wooden stilt homes across more than four hectares and displacing thousands of residents. Drone footage showed thick black smoke as flames raced through the densely packed settlement. Strong winds and the close proximity of houses accelerated the spread, while low tide limited access to seawater for firefighting, complicating containment efforts.

Authorities were alerted in the early hours and dispatched crews that used seawater, tanker supplies and a factory’s pressurised hydrant, deploying multiple hose lines and water jets; a Fire Rescue Tender from a neighbouring station also assisted. Firefighters brought the blaze under control by midday. No fatalities were reported, though rescue teams continued assessments and searches in the affected area.

Sandakan police said more than 9,000 people have been affected, many of them from poor, stateless and indigenous communities typical of Sabah’s water villages. The municipal council declared a district disaster and opened relief centres at the Batu Sapi People’s Housing Project hall and Sekolah Kebangsaan Gas to shelter evacuees. Initial registration at one centre recorded 143 households, comprising 661 people, with social welfare and civil defence teams continuing intake and support.

Federal and state authorities are coordinating relief operations to provide temporary relocation, food, water and essential supplies to displaced families. Local officials mobilised emergency resources and community groups to assist with shelter, medical checks and distribution of basics. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire, and officials urged improvements to fire-safety measures, building spacing and access to firefighting water sources in high-risk, tightly built settlements to prevent similar disasters in future.