KOTA KINABALU: The search for a boy following a fire which destroyed two houses in Kg Tanjung Labian, Lahad Datu on Sunday (April 10) morning led to the discovery of his charred remains.

       The victim, identified as Abu Bakar Ash Siddiq Rajesh, 9, was discovered in one of the two burnt-down houses after firemen managed to bring the blaze under control.

       He was believed to have been trapped in the house during the 11am blaze, while his other family members managed to escape.

       Lahad Datu fire station chief Sumsoa Rashid said they received a call on the incident at 11.05am and had rushed to the scene.

       Firemen from the Felda Sahabat volunteer team were despatched to the scene but they could only reach the site at 12.43pm due to the distance, which was over 40km away.

       “When firemen arrived, the two houses had already been engulfed in flames,” Sumsoa said.

       He said they were informed about a missing child and search in the houses could only be conducted when the fire has been extinguished.

       “The child was found in one of the houses after that,” he said.

       Sumsoa said the victim’s remains were handed over to the police for further action.

       “Operations ceased at 2.30pm,” he said, adding that the cause of the blaze was being investigated.