An early morning fire in Kampung Cempaka, Likas, has left 669 people with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

The blaze, which started at 5.41am on Saturday, destroyed 80 homes and displaced 139 families.

Residents fled as flames tore through the tightly packed squatter village, spreading rapidly across 250 square metres.

Firefighters from Lintas and Kota Kinabalu stations arrived within 17 minutes, battling the inferno with river water and relay pumps.

“The fire spread quickly due to the closely built homes, but no lives were lost,” said Lintas Fire and Rescue station chief Agustavia Joe Guasi.

Authorities, including police and the Civil Defence Force, have stepped in to aid relief efforts.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. – March 1, 2025