Fire destroys SMK St Teresa's hall in Kuching

The upper storey hall of a 131-year-old all girls' secondary school at Jalan Tun Openg here was destroyed in a fire this afternoon.

The Teresian Hall of SMK St Teresa, which was being upgraded, houses text books, PA systems as well as new chairs and desks worth RM200,000 that were donated by its former students.

SMK St Teresa principal, Mary John said the school also placed the Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3) examination papers inside the hall but these had been moved due to upgrading works on the ceiling and walls.

"Since upgrading works started, the hall is not in use. The PT3 examination is also conducted in the classroom.

"We estimate the overall losses incurred at RM300,000," she said when met by reporters at the school here today.

Mary said the ground floor of the two-storey building which houses the staff room was not damaged in the fire.

A check by Bernama at the scene found that firemen faced a daunting task when rubbles caused by the fire almost fell on them.

Meanwhile Kuching Zone Fire and Rescue chief Tiong Ling Hii said the department received a distress call at 5.09pm before despatching 40 personnel from three stations, Kuching, Petra Jaya and Batu Lintang to the school.

"We managed to control the fire from spreading to the next building and the ground floor (staff room) of the building within 20 minutes," he said, adding that fireload comprising plastic chairs and sofa set at the premises had caused the fire to spread quickly.

He said overhaul works to douse the fire completely was still ongoing. -- Bernama