BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THREE people, including two children, suffered burns in a fire that broke out in their home at a Kg Anggerek Desa flat yesterday.

Assistant Superintendent Fire and Rescue Department Branch C Noor Aflan Kachi said the male victims were rushed to Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital, but the severity of their burns is not known.

The victims stayed on the second floor of the Block C15 Universiti Brunei Darussalam flat.

The victims’ identity and cause of the fire are still under investigation, said Noor Aflan, who was head of the operation.

Witnesses said the victims, especially the children, suffered burns to their face, neck, back and hands.

One of the eyewitnesses, Shah Indrawani Hj Jumat, said he was driving along the Jalan Stadium road when he saw thick black smoke in the area.

“I use the road almost every day to go to Pulaie area and I saw something unusual when I went into that simpang. I saw fire and rushed to the scene to help the victims, two children and their father,” said Shah Indrawani.

“The father asked me to call his wife after asking other bystanders to call the ambulance as well as Fire and Rescue Department,” he added.

He said they alerted the Fire and Rescue Department around 4.30pm.

One of the neighbours said most parents were not at home in the afternoon and only children were around that area.

Sixteen firefighters were deployed from the Berakas Fire and Rescue Department headquarters and Women Operational Unit.

The Brunei Times