SCHOOLCHILDREN at a rural boarding school near Bintulu escaped unhurt after one block of their dormitory was completed destroyed in an early morning fire.

None of the 12 male boarders of the two-story wooden building were hurt in the 7am fire at SK Sebauh, 41km from Bintulu town, according to the Fire and Services Department.

An adjacent block, housing 12 female pupils, was unscathed.

The dormitory was 100% destroyed despite the early intervention of an eight-man volunteer fire unit based in the rural town.

It took 49 minutes for a fire engine, an ambulance and 12 officers from the nearest station in Bintulu to reach the school. – August 5, 2020.