KOTA KINABALU: Residents in Sabah’s interior Sook sub-district will need to travel farther from their homes for health services after a government clinic in their area was razed in a fire.

       Sabah health director Datuk Dr Rose Nani Mudin said the 4.30pm fire at the Mansiat health clinic in Jalan Tulid on Tuesday completely destroyed its facilities as well as an ambulance.

       The public will now need to visit the next nearest health facility, namely the Tulid health clinic located about 30km towards Sook town, she added.

       Fortunately, she said, the five staff’s quarters located about 50m from the fire were not affected.

       “Due to this incident, all health services will be shifted to the clinic.

       “Besides that, a mobile clinic team will also be set up to serve residents in the Mansiat clinic area,” she said in a statement late on Tuesday.

       Dr Rose Nani said the Health Department will be identifying other places such as community halls as alternative facilities to provide healthcare services to the local community.

       “There were no injuries or deaths reported in the incident.

       “The Fire and Rescue Department is still trying to establish the cause of the fire,” she added.

       Firefighters rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call at 4.48pm on Tuesday, but upon their arrival, they found that the clinic had already completely burnt down.