SLIM RIVER: Screams and pleas for help could clearly be heard coming from a semi-wooden house at Kampung Alah Batu here, which was razed in a fire early today, killing a family of three.
The dead were identified as Mohd Sharidan Abdul Aziz, 29; his wife, Siti Rafini Mohd Rafie, 27; and their 14-month-old son, Rafiq.
Neighbour Robaayah Yunus, 58, said she heard a loud noise at about 3.30am.
"(There was) a loud explosion coming from my neighbour’s home, and I immediately dashed out.
“I saw fire engulfing the middle part of the house, and rushed to wake my husband and children up.
"I am so upset, as we could not help them since the blaze was raging. I heard the wife screaming for help but we could not do anything to save them," she said, adding that the last time she saw Siti Rafini was during her cousin’s engagement feast on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Mohd Sharidan’s brother, Sharizal Abdul Aziz, 35, said that the couple was very close and loving, and went everywhere with each other.
"I last saw them at their cousin’s engagement ceremony, yesterday. They looked so happy. I never thought that it would be the last time I would see them," he said.
Sharidan, who lives not far from his late brother, immediately rushed to the scene when told about the fire by neighbours.
"The fire was raging and had completely engulfed the house.
"Neighbours told me that they had heard my brother and sister-in-law screaming for help, but nothing could be done," he said.
The victims’ remains are expected to be buried at the Kuala Slim Muslim cemetery here after the Zohor prayer, today.
Meanwhile, Hulu Selangor district police chief superintendent Azman Ab Rahman said that they received a distress call on the blaze from the Muallim police station at 4.50am.
"A team of firemen from Slim River and Kuala Kubu Bharu was rushed to the scene and managed to bring the fire under control.
“During the operation, the team discovered three charred bodies in one room of the house.
“The bodies were taken to the Slim River Hospital for post-mortems.
"We have yet to ascertain the cause of the fire and are still awaiting the Fire and Rescue Department's forensic unit reports," he added.