BENTONG: Fire destroyed 75 houses and 11 shops in Kampung Baru Karak near here last night.
Sabai assemblyman Kamache Doray Rajoo said the incident is believed to have started at about 9pm before it was finally brought under control earlier this morning.
"About 150 victims who were occupying the premises managed to vacate in time and no deaths or injuries were reported.
"The Kampung Baru Karak settlement consists of wooden and brick houses while the shops were mostly wooden units which have been around for more than 50 years," she said when contacted.
Kamache said the fire victims have been temporarily moved to SJK(C) Karak while some are staying with their relatives.
She said the Fire and Rescue Department was in the midst of investigating the cause of the fire and losses from the incident.
Meanwhile, a Fire and Rescue department spokesman said they were alerted to the incident at about 9.15pm and managed to bring the fire under control at about 1am.
"Firemen and assets from Bentong, Mentakab, Temerloh along with Volunteer Fire Department (PBS) teams from Pelangai and Mempaga were deployed. Most of the premises were about 95 percent damaged," he said.
It is learnt that efforts to put out the fire at the settlement where the premises were closely connected along a narrow road were hampered by low water pressure.