A pair of sisters tragically lost their lives after they were unable to escape the fiery flames when their double-storey terraced house suddenly caught fire on Monday night (June 1).
The sisters were identified as 15-year-old Huang Yujie and her 13-year-old sister Huang Yuning (transliteration), who both died in the fire that occurred at 8pm in Taman Ehsan Jaya, Johor Bahru.
What happened
According to China Press, the girls’ parents weren’t home at the time of the fire and that neighbours did their best to quell the fire.
One of the neighbours told the Chinese daily that fire was believed to have started at the lower floor before spreading, adding that the flames were so intense that firefighters were unable to reach the upper floor in time to rescue the sisters.
“Another neighbour who lived behind the victims’ home heard one of them screaming for help. But because the windows were fitted with metal grilles, the girls couldn’t climb out and passed out due to smoke inhalation.”
Meanwhile, the Johor Fire and Rescue Department said in a statement that 14 firefighters from the Johor Jaya, Tebrau, and Kempas fire stations were dispatched to the scene along with a Fire Rescue Tender (FRT), a Light Fire Rescue Tender (LFRT), an Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) ambulance, and a utility vehicle.
It added that 60% of the home was destroyed in the fire.
It also said that the girls were found in a room at the upper floor and were rushed to Hospital Sultan Ismail in Johor Bahru, where they were later confirmed dead.
Parents devastated
A longtime friend of the victims’ mother told China Press the girls’ parents were shattered by the news as they doted on their daughters very much.
He also said that based on how quickly the fire spread, he strongly believes that it was caused by a short circuit.
China Press also spoke to the girls’ elder brother, who said he was studying in Kuala Lumpur and was travelling back to Johor when he heard of the news.
The girls’ bodies are currently at the hospital pending a post-mortem and their funeral will be held this Thursday.
READ ALSO:
