KUANTAN (Bernama): About 48 houses and eight shops were destroyed in a fire at Kampung Baru Cina Karak, Bentong near here on Friday (Oct 1) night.

       However, there were no reports casualties in the fire which broke out at about 9.10pm, said Pahang Fire and Rescue Department director Wan Mohammad Zaidi Wan Isa.

       He said they received a distress call at 9.20pm and 52 firemen in 10 engines rushed to the scene.

       The close proximity of the houses to each other is believed to have caused the fire to spread quickly, he said when contacted by Bernama, adding that the firemen managed to control the fire at about 12.10am on Saturday (Oct 2)

       He said the department was investigating the cause of the fire and losses incurred. – Bernama