KOTA KINABALU: More than 1,600 people were made homeless in a fire which destroyed 179 water houses in Kampung Landung Ayang, Kudat, on Wednesday (Feb 16).

       According to the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department, 48 fire-fighters from the Kudat fire and rescue station, assisted by the Volunteer Fire Brigade (PBS) rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call at 4.26pm.

       On arrival, the fire was at its peak and the fire-fighters managed to control the fire at 6.43am before the fire-fighting operation was completed at 8.19 pm, it said.

       However, no casualties were reported.

       Also involved in the fire-fighting operation were members of the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), Malaysian Volunteer Corps Department (Rela) and Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB).

       Meanwhile, the Sabah Disaster Management Committee Secretariat, in a statement, said a relief centre at Dewan Tun Mustapha, Kudat, had been activated to accommodate the victims, involving about 200 families. - Bernama