Fire destroys girls' hostel at Tuaran tahfiz centre

TUARAN (Feb 14): Tarbiyatun Nisa Tahfiz Centre's hostel, which houses 41 students was destroyed in a fire early this morning.

The NST reports that all students escaped unharmed in the 6.50am fire. 

Eleven personnel with two engines had been dispatched to the scene.

“Upon arrival, the double-storey hostel was 100% burning and the firemen quickly started the operation to douse the fire.

“At the same time, checks found that all the students had escaped and they were gathering at the nearby compound, about 100m from the scene," Tuaran Fire & Rescue Department chief Abdul Qawie Abdul Gapar was quoted as saying. The call had been received at 6.58am.

Wind and the hot weather had stoked the flames, but it was put out, and its spread was halted. 

“The fire was put out at 7.38am. We’re still investigating the cause of fire and the total loss,” he said.

Ustazah Aishah Abdul Halim, the hostel caretaker said the fire occurred after the Subuh ‘kuliah’, a few students had been inside the hostel, unwell.

“As soon as the students went back to the hostel, the fire broke out on the ground floor, prompting one of the students to scream, ordering everyone to get out,” she was quoted as saying.

Students were aged between seven and 26, and include orphans or those from poor families.