CHUKAI: A hostel housing 11 orphans near here caught fire last night.
In the 8.30pm incident, the orphans who were also students at the Hafizatul Quran House for Orphans were reciting the Quran in a building next door.
Hostel warden Abdul Latif Abdul Kadir, 50, said the hostel housed female students aged between 9 and 15.
Prior to the incident, one of the students went to take ablution before noticing a fire in one of the rooms.
"The student then went to the hostel's kitchen and saw that the fire was getting bigger, she then alerted the warden on duty.
"The warden then contacted emergency services," Abdul Latif told NSTP when met at the scene last night.
According to him, the fire destroyed mattresses and various furniture, estimating a total loss of RM20,000.
Meanwhile, Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department's zone 2 chief Azmi Ab Rahim said they received a distress call at 8.38pm.
"20 personnel and three officers in two fire trucks from the Chukai and Kijal fire stations rushed to the scene immediately after receiving the call," he said.
The fire was put out completely by 10pm, Azmi said, adding that the cause of fire was still being investigated.