KOTA KINABALU: Residents in Sabah’s interior Sook sub-district will need to travel further from their homes to obtain health services after a government clinic in the area was razed in a fire on Tuesday (June 14).

       Sabah Health director Datuk Dr Rose Nani Mudin said the 4.30pm incident at the Mansiat health clinic in Jalan Tulid had completely destroyed the facilities as well an ambulance.

       In order to obtain healthcare, she said nearby residents now needed to visit the Tulid health clinic located about 30km away.

       Dr Rose also said that, fortunately, the five staff quarters located about 50m from the clinic were not affected by the fire.

       “Due to this incident, all health services will be shifted to the Tulid clinic,” she said in a statement late Tuesday.

       “Besides that, a mobile clinic team will also be set up to serve residents in the Mansiat area,” she added.

       Dr Rose said the health department will be identifying other venues 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 also still trying to establish the cause of the fire,” she said.

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