KAMPUNG SIMUNUL: The bodies of three gunmen left lying on Lorong 5 in Kg Simunul were removed by officials from the religious department as the one-kilometre-long street experiences an exodus of hundreds of families.

It is not known where the bodies were taken to.

One body had been lying on a boat, another on the wooden boardwalk and the third in a stilt house since the shootout between security forces and the gunmen on Saturday

The surrounding areas are spattered with blood.

Villagers from Kampung Simunul fleeing their homes with their belongings on Monday. - AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

Villagers said they don't know who will bury bodies and they said they afraid to tamper with the bodies.

They said they did not know the identities of the dead who were among the six gunmen shot dead on Saturday. Six policemen were also killed during the shootout.

As villagers in Lorong 5 left, villagers outside Lorong 5 in this sprawling water settlement were trickling back.

Villagers of Kampung Simunul seen leaving their homes by boat on Monday. - AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

“We have been staying here for more than 30 years. We are not supporters of the Sulu Sultan.

“We are afraid that after the shooting, it will no longer be safe here,” said one of the villagers who declined to be named.

No uniformed policemen or military personnel were seen this morning as villagers packed their household belongings, including refrigerators, televisions and stoves, to stay with relatives elsewhere.

In Kunak, the town has become virtually a ghost town with outlets such as KFC, Petronas and other shops closed and the police stations in darkness since reports emerged that armed intruders were spotted in the town on Saturday.

• IHH Healthcare earnings up 3.6% to RM127.27m
• Petronas Dagangan Q1 earnings down 3.7% to RM237m
• Japan's tumble drags key regional, European markets lower (Update)
• KUB in JV with Singapore's Hiap Seng for Petronas project
• TDM to plant 5,000ha of new trees every year in Kalimantan
• KLCI falls to low of 1,765, rattled by Japan, HK
• Japan stocks crash on volatile bonds, weak China data; Nikkei ends down 7.3%
• MISC posts RM300m net profit in Q1, sees challenging year ahead (Update)
• KL Kepong slips to low of RM21.36 as quarterly profit drops
• Maybank's Q1 earnings up 11.8% to RM1.506b (Update)
• Lafarge Cement positive on markets, mulls expanding capacity
• Dayang Enterprise awards RM705m contract to Perdana Petroleum
• KLCI pauses, Japan, Hong Kong key indices slide (Update)
• ECM Libra plans to exit PN17 by year-end
• China HSBC flash PMI hits 7-mth low, fans growth fears

• Ranger, militant killed in Thai south shootout
• Japan man, 80, scales Everest, sets record
• Philippines vows to defend territory against China
• S. Korean girl killed by suicide jumper
• Ecuador warns satellite could hit rocket remains
• Short-story writer Davis wins Booker International Prize
• Two babies among US tornado victims
• Anti-Islamist protests flare following London attack
• 'British solider' butchered in suspected Islamist attack (Updated)

• Rugby: Former All Black coach Henry on misconduct charge
• Ice queen Nicol into British Open quarters
• Australia to consider following ban on anchor putters
• Intxausti wins 16th stage, Nibali still keeps pink jersey
• Indonesia drawn to meet China again – in knockout stage
• Results worldwide
• Malacca sprinter Mohd Azam Masri out to create history by winning five events in MSSM meet
• Athletics runs in the veins of Vallabouy family
• Chinese long jumper Jinzhe claims another Olympic scalp
• Dane Jorgensen’s wish is to avoid Chinese ace Lin Dan in World Championships
• National badminton team’s lack of depth a glaring factor in home tourney
• Khim Wah-V Shem perform above expectations in Sudirman Cup debut
• Jindapon aims to qualify for 2016 Olympics
• Kenichi’s goal is to take Japan into Sudirman Cup semi-finals
• Dong-keun shows he’s a capable replacement

• Please wait.

• Actress’ barking pet saves her from attacker in late night incident
• Colleges challenge new conditions set by registrar
• Tian Chua, Haris Ibrahim, Tamrin Ghafar to spend the night in lockup (Update)
• Transport Ministry reveals new FT registration plate to start with W1A
• What comes after WYY?
• In China, food scares put Mao's self-sufficiency goal at risk
• Verdict ends three years of restlessness for family, says Sosilawati's daughter
• All four accused guilty in murder of Sosilawati Lawiya and three others (Update)
• Chromebook to help rural pupils leapfrog into parity with urban peers
• Astro and Maxis to deliver new-age TV service in Klang Valley