A huge fire broke out this morning in a coastal village in Sabah, Malaysia, destroying at least 1,000 homes and leaving thousands homeless, with no reports of casualties, according to authorities.

The fire broke out in a stilt-built area in the Sandakan district, where many wooden dwellings are located close together and house some of the country's poorest communities.

Local police chief George Abd Raqman described the event as a "sad disaster of enormous proportions," noting that about 9,007 residents have been affected by the fire, according to The Star.

The Sabah Fire Department said it was notified of the incident at around 01:32 local time and sent 37 personnel to the scene to bring the flames under control.

According to authorities, the fire quickly spread to about 1,000 waterfront homes, covering an area of ​​about 40 acres, completely destroying them. So far, no deaths or injuries have been reported, while authorities continue to investigate the causes of the fire and manage the consequences for affected residents.

A huge fire tore through the floating village of Kampung Bahagia in Sabah, Malaysia, destroying more than 200 homes and leaving over 400 people displaced.

The blaze spread quickly overnight because of strong winds and tightly packed wooden houses. pic.twitter.com/n2qQ4f6WQp

- Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 19, 2026