SANDAKAN: Police have confirmed that two children who perished in a fiery lorry accident here last night were sisters.
The siblings, Marsila Faizal, 4 and Amanda Faizal, 8, were also the nieces of the lorry driver, identified as Hasim Pinando, 32.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Azhar Hamin said the children were travelling with their uncle and his 21-year-old wife in the lorry, which was carrying liquefied petroleum gas tanks.
“They were heading towards Batu 12 from the direction of Kampung Pampang, Batu 10. Based on our investigation, the driver is believed to have lost control of the vehicle when going uphill.
“The lorry skidded and plunged into a ravine and exploded,” Mohd Azhar said.
The children were trapped in the lorry and burnt to death.
Their uncle sustained injuries, while his wife was reported to have suffered 70 per cent burns.
The district Fire and Rescue Department deployed two fire engines with 10 personnel to the scene after receiving a distress call at 7.13pm.
Firefighters managed to control the blaze at 7.54pm and found the charred remains of the two children in the vehicle.
The injured victims were taken to the Duchess of Kent Hospital.