SUNGAI PETANI: An early morning blaze involving eight shoplots here claimed the lives of three family members including a nonagenarian. The three died after their shoplot and seven other shops including a pawn shop, appliance store and hair salon caught fire around 1am yesterday.
Kedah Fire and Rescue Department director Awang Hidzel Awang Bujang said three individuals were found dead in the fire which destroyed the two-storey shophouses in Jalan Sungai Emas, Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah.
“The victims were all senior citizens,” he said.
The victims were identified as sewing equipment shop owner Lim Yang Kooi, 66, his wife Lee Chew Fong, 61, and her mother Yong Swee Lan, 93.
Dearly departed: The three victims of the fire (from left) Lim, Lee and Yong.
“We have completed the operation after locating the half-burnt remains of the third victim at about 10.15am,” he said.
The first victim was found in the living room at about 3.19am after firefighters put out the fire while the second victim was found at 6am under the debris of the entrance door.
“We suspect one of them was trapped near the staircase while trying to flee from the fire,” he said.
Dawn blaze: Fire and Rescue department personnel putting out the fire at a row of shoplots that killed three in Jalan Sungai Emas, Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah. — Taken from social media
Awang Hidzel said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
He did not rule out the possibility that the victims had tried to escape from the fire but suffered from smoke inhalation while trying to flee from the building.
Meanwhile in Penang, a 60-year-old disabled man perished in a fire that destroyed two kampung houses early yesterday morning.
The Penang Fire and Rescue Department in a statement said the elderly man was burnt to death in the fire that took place in Jalan Kampung Pisang, Ayer Itam, Penang.
“We received a report at 3.44am of a fire in Jalan Kampung Pisang.
“When we reached the site there were two kampung houses on fire.
“We managed to control the fire at around 4.28am.
“A disabled man perished in the fire,” the report read.
The statement said the fire had caused 90% of damage to both homes.
