Father and daughter perish in Rawang fire

A single parent and his eight-year-old daughter were killed in a fire at Jalan 3D, Taman Jati, Rawang, Selangor today.

The victims were identified as Mohd Syafiee Muhammad Ismail,39, and his daughter, Nazifa Nawwarah.

Mohd Syafiee's former wife and Nazifa Nawwarah's mother, Rosmawati Mat Desa, 35, had just arrived from Terengganu to fetch her to spend Aidilfitri in Perak.

Rosmawati said she had just arrived from Terengganu with her eldest child Nurul Nadzirah,16, to fetch Nazifa Nawwarah at her former husband's home.

"I left Terengganu at 7 am and arrived in Rawang at 10.30 am and saw firemen putting out a fire at my former husband's house.

"A neighbour told me Nazifa and her father were still in the house," she told Bernama at Sungai Bulok Hospital, near here.

"My daughter (Nazifa) was very close to her father and they stayed in Rawang," she said, adding their remains would be buried at Taman Garing Muslim Cemetery today.

Meanwhile, Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Operations assistant director, Mohd Sani Harul said several workers renovating a house saw the fire at the victims' house at 9.30 am.

"A team of firemen and officers from Rawang station received information about the fire at 9.56 am. They arrived at the scene in 10 minutes, doused the fire in 40 minutes and found the two bodies," he told Bernama.

Meanwhile, preparation by nine families for Aidilfitri were destroyed when their homes in Kampung Pandan Dalam, Ampang were destroyed in a fire today.

Six kampung houses were razed to the ground at 3 pm.

Narrating the anxious moments, Siti Safura Mokhtar, 55, said she had just performed 'zohor' prayers when she heard an explosion next door.

"When I left my room, the living room was filled with smoke. I only managed to retrieve important documents such as identity cards, driving licences and marriage certificate.

"All my raya preparation such as clothes were totally destroyed," she said when met here.

Meanwhile, Pandan Indah Fire and Rescue Station chief Skein Citbanchong Wee San said 33 firemen arrived at the scene at 3.30 pm.

He said six fire engines from the Pandan, Keramat, Pudu and Hang Tuah stations were also sent to put out the fire.

The cause of the fire and losses were still being investigated and no loss of life was reported, he added.