Heartbreak for 300 residents as fire destroys longhouse

SARIKEI: The Gawai Dayak celebrations took on a sad and heart-rending note for about 300 residents in Sungai Mugu, Muara Payang here when fire destroyed their 16-door longhouse this evening.
The blaze which struck the Rumah Benang Anak Pirang at 6.45pm, left the residents homeless, and with just the clothes on their back.
The fire is believed to have started from the kitchen of a room at the longhouse.
A resident, Jakeni Jeral, 57, said he and his wife had just arrived at the longhouse from Bandar Sarikei when the incident occurred.
"We could not salvage any belonging as the fire had already engulfed the longhouse. All our preparations to celebrate the Gawai Dayak tomorrow have gone up in smoke.
"What is important is that we managed save ourselves and families. (However) We have been rendered homeless (by the fire).
"I appeal (to the authorities) that all fire victims be relocated to Bandar Sarikei as here, there is no place for us to take shelter," he said when contacted by Bernama here.
Jakeni, who has lived in the longhouse for five years said the other residents were also unable to salvage their belongings as the fire had spread quickly.
They were nevertheless, grateful that no one was injured, he said.
Meanwhile, Kuching Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Farhan Sufyan Borhan said a team of seven firefighters and rescuers from the Sarikei fire and rescue station were despatched to the scene by boat in a 45-minute journey.
The Sarikei Social Welfare Department said the fire victims would be temporarily housed at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Muara Payang tonight. — Bernama