An elderly woman is believed to have died after being mauled by a pack of stray dogs at the Kunak bus terminal in Sabah’s east coast.
A closed-circuit television (CCTV) recording captured the horrifying attack, which took place at 1.49am on Saturday (Jan 25).
The footage shows the woman trying to fend off a pack of 11 dogs before they overwhelmed her, biting and tearing off her clothes.
According to The Star, Kunak district police chief Supt Sabarudin Rahmat confirmed that authorities received a call from the public around 6.30am the same day, reporting a body at the bus terminal.
Our investigating team found the deceased lying on the ground, completely unclothed, with multiple dog bite wounds on her hands, head, chest, waist, and legs,” he said on Monday (Jan 27).
Investigations revealed that the woman had no identification documents, and police believe she was not a local resident of Kunak.
Her body has been sent to Tawau Hospital for a post-mortem. The case has been classified as a Sudden Death.
The incident has reignited concerns over stray dog attacks in Sabah, with Lahad Datu Umno Youth Chief Datuk Seri Dr. Anil Sandhu urging for immediate and comprehensive action to address the issue.
All local councils, relevant government agencies, and animal rights activists must take this problem seriously. It is time to resolve this growing threat to public safety,” he said.
Dr. Anil, who reviewed the CCTV footage, described it as too disturbing to watch a second time.
“Seeing the elderly woman being mercilessly attacked and bitten was heartbreaking. This should never happen to anyone,” he added.
Sabah has seen multiple fatal dog attacks in recent years
In November 2024, a two-year-old boy was killed by stray dogs in Kampung Sungai Tohok, Semporna, while in September 2022, a 29-year-old woman was found dead after a suspected stray dog attack in Kampung Batu, Semporna.
Stray dog attacks are not limited to villages or towns. Motorcyclists have been injured while trying to avoid chasing dogs, and even joggers in parks have fallen victim,” Dr. Anil noted, emphasising the urgent need for preventive measures.
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