Historical fort Renee partially destroyed in fire

Fort Renee, a 132-year-old historical building in Saratok - about 208km from here - was partially destroyed in a fire incident today.

A spokesman from the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department's operations centre said the fire was reported at about 10.32 am, and a team from the Saratok Fire and Rescue Station led by Nazry Mohamat rushed to the scene.

"The fire was brought under control by 10.55 am, but by then, about 20 per cent or 790 square metres of the building had been destroyed, including a community leaders' meeting room situated at the ground floor," he said.

The two-storey Fort Renee was built in 1888 during the reign of the second White Rajah of Sarawak, Charles Brooke, as a defence facility and administrative office to collect taxes from the local people in Saratok.

The building had once been used by the Sarawak state government to house the Saratok District Council office, while in recent years, it also accommodated a community internet centre.

-- BERNAMA