Seventeen families comprising 67 people were made homeless by fire in a squatter area at Pujut Corner today.
Senior Fire Officer Abdul Latip Kassim said the fire started at a houses at about 10.30am and spread to 15 other houses within half an hour.
He said the 24 firemen had difficulty bringing the blaze under control because of the hot weather and lack of a water source.
The Miri Division Disaster Relief Committee Chairman, Antonio Kahti Galis, said that many of the families were being put up at the Malaysian Red Crescent Society building.
Others had gone to stay with relatives, said Galis, who is Resident of Miri Division.
– Bernama