Syawal early morning tragedy as mother and four children perish in fire

The excitement of the early hours of Syawal turned into tragedy when a mother and her four sons died in a fire that razed their house in Kampung Binsuluk, Membakut, Sabah this morning.

The woman identified as Aishah Jumat, 58, perished in the fire that also took the lives of her sons Dzulkarnain Othman, 34, Dzulnisham, 27, Rozaini, 26 and Rosdi, 24.

Two other sons aged 25 and 29, who also suffered severe burns in the fire, were being treated at the Beaufort Hospital.

The victim's husband, Othman Ali, 64, and his daughter-in-law were spared the fire.

Meanwhile, Sabah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director Kamarulzaman Malik Abdullah when contacted said he received a call on the incident at about 2.54 am.

"A team of firemen from the Kuala Penyu Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) was later rushed to the scene to douse the fire.

"The fire involved a wooden house that was completely gutted. We managed to control the fire at about 5 am," he said.

He said, from the on-site investigation, the firemen found five victims.

"Two people suffered burns in the incident and have been hospitalized for further treatment.

"The cause of the fire and the estimated losses are still under investigation," he said.