KLANG: Three houses, two jetties, and five boats were destroyed in a mid-morning blaze in Pulau Ketam, where a woman was found dead. The victim, a 49-year-old woman, was discovered at 10.05 pm yesterday after an entire day of searching. She was found in a house that had been completely destroyed by the fire, according to Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Wan Md Razali Wan Ismail stated that firefighters arrived at the scene in Bagan Teo Chew Pulau Ketam at 12.50 pm. Preliminary reports show that three houses, classified as ‘Class C buildings,’ were significantly burned, with damage reaching 90%. Teams from three fire stations, namely Port Klang, Kota Raja, and Andalas fire stations, were dispatched to the scene, along with assistance from the Pulau Ketam Voluntary Fire Brigade (PBS).
A search and rescue operation was initiated after the woman’s family members failed to locate her. Due to the prevalence of wooden structures on the island, a quick response from the Pulau Ketam Volunteer Firemen Association, trained by the Port Klang Fire and Rescue Department, was crucial in containing the fire. Firemen used seawater and fire hydrants on the island to extinguish the fire. As a result of the incident, three boats were completely destroyed, and two others suffered partial damage. The victim is believed to have been alone at the time, according to Port Klang Fire and Rescue Station chief Razif Mohd Haris.
According to an anonymous resident, volunteer firefighters encountered difficulties in accessing seawater due to low tide when the fire broke out. Instead, they utilized water from nearby houses’ water tanks to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby structures. The incident left a profound impact on the village, as Pulau Ketam had never experienced such a significant fire before. However, thanks to the efforts of volunteer firemen and residents working together, the damage was contained.
Janice Lee, a local resident, expressed gratitude for the actions of the volunteer firemen and residents in preventing the fire from escalating further. Lee remarked that the village’s close proximity and the potential for more extensive damage made their intervention crucial. Another nearby resident, Chua See Wei, shared that she had anxiously prayed for the fire not to escalate. Chua attributed the fire’s spread to the strong winds earlier in the day.
Pulau Ketam is known for its houses and bridges built on stilts over mangrove swamps. It is a popular tourist destination in Selangor, with a population mainly composed of Hokkien and Teochew clan members who work as fishermen or operate eateries.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
