Kota Kinabalu declares fire zone a disaster area, opens two temporary shelters
Two temporary shelters opened in Kota Kinabalu as authorities declare the fire zone a disaster area following the destruction of more than 200 homes.
Source: Astro Awani · August 30, 2026 at 7:03 AM · AI-assisted report
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KOTA KINABALU, 30 AUGUST 2026 —
Two temporary shelters opened in Kota Kinabalu as authorities declare the fire zone a disaster area following the destruction of more than 200 homes.
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More than 200 people displaced by the blaze that tore through Kampung Lok Buta in Numbak at 1.40am today are now housed at Dewan Kampung Likas and Dewan Damai, said Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak).
The Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK) simultaneously declared the area a disaster zone, he told reporters after an inspection visit.
“Identifying school-age children among the displaced is critical so their learning is not disrupted,” Mustapha said.
He added that the ministry will relay this information to the Education Ministry so affected pupils, university students and vocational trainees can receive assistance.
DBKK mayor and District Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah accompanied Mustapha during the visit.
Mustapha also instructed DBKK and related agencies to convene a meeting to plan recovery steps, noting that the federal-state MA63 committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and attended by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor could provide a platform for a detailed briefing.
The minister said immediate aid would be given to the families of the three children who died in the fire: four-year-old Nana Abdullah, her six-year-old brother Mohd Asrul Abdullah, and their eight-year-old cousin Nurfarahdilah Mohd Tajihah.
For Malaysian business readers, the declaration signals that government agencies will coordinate relief efforts and channel donations efficiently, reducing duplication and speeding reconstruction.
Related: Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) · Datuk Mustapha Sakmud · Kota Kinabalu