SANDAKAN DISTRICT — A fire early Sunday destroyed around 200 wooden stilt homes in a coastal water village in Sabah's Sandakan district, displacing hundreds of residents, according to figures from a temporary relief center. Authorities were notified of the blaze at about 1:32 a.m. local time, and no deaths have been reported.

The flames spread rapidly through rows of houses constructed on stilts above the sea. Other accounts placed the number of destroyed homes at about 1,000 and the displacement at more than 9,000 people, while unofficial figures showed about 445 people had registered at a temporary relief center in Sandakan.

"Strong winds and the close proximity of the houses caused the fire to spread rapidly, while low tide conditions made it difficult to obtain an open water source," Sandakan district fire and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung said. Narrow access routes further hindered emergency crews trying to reach the affected areas and contain the flames.

The cause of the fire has not been confirmed and remains under investigation.

Datuk Walter Kenson, head of the Sandakan District Disaster Management Committee, said examination of the village found that the homes of the affected residents were no longer safe to live in. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said federal and state agencies were coordinating relief efforts, with immediate assistance focused on displaced families. He said the federal government was working with Sabah authorities to provide basic assistance and temporary relocation for those affected.

"The priority now is the safety of the victims and immediate assistance on the ground," Anwar said. Authorities were notified of the blaze at 1:32 a.m. local time, equivalent to 17:32 GMT Saturday.

Water villages are informal settlements built over the sea found along much of the coastline of Sabah, one of the poorest states in Malaysia. The homes in these villages are tightly packed, made from wood and other combustible materials, and often lack basic infrastructure. Many residents are from low-income or marginalized communities, including Indigenous groups and people without formal citizenship status.

Fires in Sabah's water villages have occurred repeatedly over the years. Sabah authorities have long acknowledged that water villages are highly fire-prone, and broader safety upgrades to the settlements remain an ongoing challenge.