KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department expects to complete its investigation of a fire that claimed the lives of five children in Likas on Monday (Sept 30) in two weeks.
In the 12.44pm incident, a mother went into labour when the fire broke out and was rushed to the hospital as the blaze engulfed her home.
It resulted in the deaths of her three daughters and two young neighbours.
It is understood that the woman safely delivered her baby, although no further details were available at the time of writing.
The charred remains of the five girls were found in a bathroom of the house.
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The victims were identified as the woman's daughters aged one, three and four; as well as a 14-year-old girl and her three-year-old sister.
Initial investigations revealed that the woman was looking after seven children at her home when she started having contractions.
“Her contractions intensified, and she was preparing to go to the Likas Women and Children’s Hospital when the fire broke out,” Lintas fire station chief Agustavia Joe Guasi said on Tuesday (Oct 1).
Two other children managed to escape.
A total of 33 firemen from the Lintas, Kota Kinabalu and Putatan stations were sent to the scene in Jalan Lembaga Padi, Lorong Burung Keleto in Likas.
The fire spread rapidly and destroyed three houses, a store and a sundry shop.
