Cops believe short circuit started fire that killed 4 kids

MUAR: An electrical short circuit is believed to be the cause of the house fire that killed four children in Kampung Sabok Awor here yesterday.

Initial investigation revealed that the fire started in the kitchen. The bodies of two boys and two girls, aged between 3 and 8, were found huddled together in the toilet.

Muar District police chief Assistant Commissioner Raiz Mukhlis Azman Aziz said when the fire broke out, the children were by themselves, while their mother, 31, had gone to the sundry shop 10 minutes away.

Their 30-year-old Myanmar-national father was at a restaurant where he worked as a kitchen helper.

Raiz Mukhliz added investigations are ongoing, while the Fire and Rescue Department would establish the cause of the fire.

"The devastated mother was alerted about the fire by a neighbour who called her on her mobile phone," he added.

It is learnt the family did not own a television set nor any electrical appliances, however, she had left the lights on before leaving the house.

The house was 80 per cent destroyed by the time the Fire and Rescue Department's firefighters arrived at the scene 20 minutes getting a call at 7.49pm yesterday.