FIRST OF A THREE PART SERIES
Eleven years ago, on June 19, 2013, a devastating fire swept through Kampung Datu Lama and Kampung Hilir in Sibu, leaving 61 houses destroyed and more than 500 residents homeless.
The densely populated village, composed mostly of wooden houses, allowed the fire, fuelled by strong winds and dry conditions, to spread rapidly.
Despite emergency services’ quick response, the intensity of the fire made it challenging to control.
Reflecting on the tragedy that struck one of the oldest villages in Sibu, believed to be over 200 years old, Sarawak Tribune spoke to Andy Chua from The Star, a journalist who covered the incident.
“It was the worst fire I have ever seen in Sibu as a journalist,” Chua remarked.
He described the chaos, saying, “I saw victims breaking down in tears and others crying. There was shouting everywhere. The entire scene was chaotic—like something out of a Hollywood movie.”
Chua noted the significant impact on the victims, many of whom lost their homes.
“To me, this was the worst fire the town has ever experienced,” he said.
However, he also observed a positive outcome: the strong community spirit.
“I saw residents rushing to help each other, salvaging whatever they could, including heavy items like refrigerators and TVs,” Chua explained.
“People even returned from their offices to save their belongings. Despite the intense flames, they rushed around trying to protect whatever they could.
“I spent nearly two hours at the scene for my report. By the end, my clothes were drenched in sweat,” he added.
Akun Giman, a journalist from Utusan Sarawak, shared that he got chills upon seeing the incident as he reached the area.
With only a few years of experience in journalism at that time, the situation was even more overwhelming.
“I was in the office working on a news story when I received information about the fire. As soon as I got the news, I rushed to the scene, leaving behind the story I was working on.
“When I arrived at the location, my heart was racing. I had never in my life seen so many houses burning,” he said.
He said that in the blink of an eye, a village turned into a barren wasteland.
“A village that I normally passed by after work, with the sight of children playing on the roadside and neighbours laughing and chatting together, had turned into a scene of people mourning the losses they faced,” he said.
Fortunately, Akun added that no casualties were reported.
Witnessing the disaster was heart-wrenching, but experiencing it firsthand was even more painful; a story remains incomplete without understanding the victim’s perspective.
Nur Hidayah Ariff, 31, shared that she was at work when a friend informed her about thick smoke rising from their village.
“Soon after, my mother called to tell me that our house was on fire, and I rushed back immediately,” she said.
Tragically, her grandparents’ home, where she had spent her childhood, and the close-knit, friendly village were lost in an instant.
“The most unforgettable moment was when my family was left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, having had no time to salvage anything.”
“What hurt the most was knowing that my younger sibling’s schoolbooks, which were crucial for her SPM exams that year, were destroyed.”
“Honestly, rebuilding our lives from scratch was a significant struggle because we lost everything,” she added.
She also expressed her heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed significantly to helping the fire victims.
After the incident, the victims were placed at Sekolah Agama LAKIS for a week before being temporarily relocated to Housing Development Corporation (HDC)-owned flats in Rantau Panjang and Sibu Jaya while they looked for more permanent residences.
Although some residents have rebuilt their homes after the inferno, their wooden houses are prone to fire due to being positioned closely together.
The recent fire in Kampung Hilir on Sept 21 caused 165 residents to lose their homes after 15 houses were destroyed.
Fortunately, no casualty was reported in the incident.
