Melboun Jeasy, 15, and Taun Nyaring, 61, perish as fire destroys 31 workers’ quarters in Bintulu dawn blaze
BINTULU: A predawn inferno claimed two lives and destroyed 31 workers’ housing units at a wood-processing facility in Bintulu district early Sunday morning, leaving a community in mourning.
The victims have been identified as Taun Nyaring, 61, and her teenage grandson Melboun Jeasy, 15. Both were residents of the factory’s workers’ quarters, where their family members are employed.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department received the distress call at approximately 1am, alerting them to the fire at the industrial site on Jalan Sungai Nyigu, situated on the outskirts of Bintulu town.
Upon arrival, firefighting crews encountered flames engulfing multiple two-storey residential units constructed adjacent to one another. The fire had spread rapidly through the interconnected structures, creating a dangerous situation for all residents.
While the majority of occupants successfully evacuated the burning complex, the grandmother and her grandson became trapped inside one of the blazing units. Despite the swift response from emergency personnel, both victims succumbed to the flames.
Firefighters worked tirelessly for three hours to bring the massive fire under control. The charred remains of Taun and Melboun were discovered among the debris after flames were extinguished at approximately 4am.
The devastating fire consumed all 31 housing units in the workers’ residential complex. In addition to the structural losses, numerous motorcycles parked in the vicinity were also destroyed by the blaze.
The scale of destruction has left dozens of factory workers displaced and without shelter, compounding the tragedy that has already taken two lives.
According to the official statement released by the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department, the bodies of the deceased have been transferred to police custody. Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
Fire investigators are examining the scene to identify potential factors that may have contributed to the rapid spread of flames through the workers’ quarters. The close proximity of the units and their construction materials will likely be key focus areas in the investigation.
The loss of a teenager and his grandmother has sent shockwaves through the local community. The family, who relied on employment at the wood-processing factory, now faces unimaginable grief alongside the practical challenges of displacement.
Local authorities and social services are expected to provide assistance to the affected families who lost their homes in the fire.
The incident marks one of the most devastating residential fires in Bintulu’s recent history, both in terms of lives lost and property destroyed.
