A fire in Sandakan, Borneo, destroyed 1,000 houses and displaced over 9,000 people. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A devastating fire broke out on Sunday morning in the Sandakan district on the island of Borneo, destroying approximately 1,000 homes and displacing over 9,000 people. According to authorities, the fire spread rapidly among the wooden houses built on stilts above the sea, fueled by strong winds and the proximity of the structure. Narrow access and low tide conditions hampered the intervention of emergency teams. Although no deaths have been reported, thousands of residents were forced to seek refuge in temporary shelters.

Water villages, informally built on the sea, are common in Sabah, one of the poorest regions in Malaysia, and the houses are often made of combustible materials and lack basic infrastructure. According to a local leader, the fire was allegedly caused by a cooking flame that got out of control, but the official cause remains under investigation. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that federal and state agencies are coordinating relief efforts, focusing on displaced families. Fires in water villages in Sabah have been frequent, and authorities acknowledge that these settlements are extremely vulnerable to fires, but safety improvements remain a challenge.