THE charred remains of two people were found after an early morning fire that destroyed eight shophouses on Jalan Sungai Emas Kota Kuala Muda near Sungai Petani, today.

Kedah Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department director Awang Hidzel Awang Bujang said firefighters from the Tikam Batu and Sungai Petani fire and rescue stations, with the assistance of a team from the Kuala Muda fire and rescue station, rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call at 1.12am.

He said upon arrival, the firefighters found eight units of class B two-storey shophouses on fire and efforts were made to prevent the fire from spreading.

The firefighters managed to control the blaze at 3.08am, after which the two bodies were found.

The first victim was found at 3.19am while the second victim was found at 6am. The bodies were then handed over to the police for further action, he said in a statement today.

The body of a third victim was found at 10.15am.

“The body of the third victim was found under the stairs not far from where the body of the second victim was found. The body of the first victim was found in the living room while the second body was found about 3m away and was hit by the rubble of a door… all near the exit of a shophouse,” he said.

He said the fire is believed to have started at a shop selling school clothing, which then spread to the adjoining units. The shophouses, with the upper structure made of wood, were believed to be built more than 60 years ago.

Two of the victims were women, identified as Yong Swee Lan, 92, and  Lee Chew Fong, 61, while the other was a man, identified as Lim Yang Kooi, 66. However, their relationship had yet to be ascertained. – Bernama, September 18, 2023.