TAWAU: "We were all in a panic as it was dark following a blackout for nearly an hour before the fire. We didn't realise my grandson was still in the room."
These were words of Mohd Tahir Nabil, 70, the grandfather of five-year-old Putra Airis Azmil, a preschool student at SK Taman Tawau, who was found dead in a fire at Lorong Jati, Kampung Kinabutan Batu 5, Jalan Apas, here, around midnight.
Mohd Tahir said during the incident, all 13 family members, including his wife, children and six grandchildren, were at home, with some already asleep.
"I was shocked to hear a neighbour shouting that our house was on fire. I looked out and saw flames engulfing the front stairs.
"My children, son-in-law, and I quickly woke everyone up and moved the grandchildren to a vehicle parked nearby for safety.
"Unfortunately, we didn't realise Airis (his late grandson's nickname) wasn't with us. He was still in the upstairs room," he said when met at the scene today.
He tried to brave the flames to save his grandson, but the fire spread too quickly, destroying the wooden house in under 10 minutes.
Neighbour Haniah Arif, 56, said she heard the victim's cries for help but could do nothing due to the intense flames, heat, and darkness.
"Before the incident, I couldn't sleep due to the storm and strong winds, which caused some roof sheets to make noises as if they were about to fly off.
"Shortly after that, the power went out for nearly an hour, adding to the panic among residents before the fire broke out.
"This is the second fire here since the first incident in August 2013, which also destroyed more than 30 houses," she added.
In the incident around 12:10 am, about 40 houses were destroyed.