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MIRI: A fire gutted a longhouse making some 700 dwellers homeless in northern Sarawak yesterday.

The fire occurred at about midnight at Rumah Banyang occupied by 41 Iban families.

Last month, three longhouse blocks were destroyed in the Punan Bah village in Kapit Division in central Sarawak, leaving 1,000 Punan villagers homeless.

Rumah Banyang, which was built during the colonial era, is located about 90km south of here in the Sibuti parliamentary constituency, sandwiched between Miri and the Bintulu parliamentary seats.

Miri Division Fire chief Serumi Ali said that the fire spread very fast and by the time they reached the scene, the longhouse was already gutted.

Several non-governmental bodies like the Red Crescent and the Tzu Chi Buddhist Society were providing aid to the victims.

[ Source ]

Please help provide aid to the longhouse victims by contacting by contacting these non-governmental bodies and ask how you can help. Fire safety equipment & training should be provided to the longhouse settlers to prevent such disasters occurring.

Contact Info:

美里紅心月會
Miri Red Crescent Society

Lot 312, Lorong 1
J. Bulan Sabit
PO Box 370
98007 Miri
Telephone : 6 085 411121
Fax : 085 420479

Tzu Chi Buddhist Society

Lot 1276-1279, 2nd Floor,
Centre Point Commercial Centre,
Jalan Melayu, 98000 Miri,
Sarawak.
Tel : 085-419753