Massive Fire Devastates Malaysian Water Village

0:00It's April 19th. This is Sydney News Today, AI-powered stories from your city. I'm Cory with the story. A massive fire tore through a water village in Sabah, Malaysia, wiping out homes for over 9,000 residents. The blaze spread fast because of fierce winds, houses packed too close together, and low tide that cut off easy water access for firefighters. No one died, but the damage hit hard in this stilt-built community. These water villages house some of Malaysia's poorest folks, including stateless people and indigenous groups living in wooden structures right over. The water. The setup makes them super vulnerable to fires like this one. Local police confirmed the huge toll, and folks are now scrambling for shelter after losing everything in minutes. Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim jumped in quick, saying the federal teams linking up with Sabah officials for basics like food, water, and temp housing spots. Right now, the focus stays locked on keeping victims safe and getting aid flowing on the ground, with recovery efforts wrapping up daily.