SIBU: Some 150 villagers were left with only the clothes on their backs after a fire destroyed 15 houses in Kampung Hilir, Jalan Kampung Hilir, here yesterday.
A team of firefighters from the Sibu Sentral, Sungai Merah, and Sibu Jaya Fire and Rescue stations was deployed to the scene after they were alerted to the fire at 6.43pm.
Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department operation centre spokesman said upon arrival, the team found that the fire was raging, destroying the entire structure of the houses.
"The team then began efforts to put off the fire, which was finally controlled within an hour at 7.57pm," the spokesman said.
The spokesman added that the department is still in the process of ascertaining the cause of the fire and the losses from the incident.