KOTA BARU: Ten people including two elderly women were left homeless after fire destroyed three houses at Kampung Surau Kota here today.
The 9am blaze is believed to have been caused by a short-circuit.
Firemen however managed to save three nearby wooden houses.
Kota Darul Naim Fire and Rescue Department station officer in-charge, Wan Mohd Shahril Azizi Wan Said, said the three houses were about 80 per cent destroyed when firemen arrived at the scene after being alerted to the emergency at 9.32am.
"A total of 31 firemen in four engines were rushed to the scene. The fire was brought under control in 20 minutes," he said when met at the scene.
He said the department is still assessing the total losses incurred in the tragedy.
Meanwhile, one of the house owners, Mohd Zain Alias, said he was at his office when a relative informed him about the fire.
"I immediately rushed back to see whether my parents were safe.
"Alhamdulillah, both managed to escape the fire," said the 36-year-old, who lost all his belongings in the blaze.