Kampung Bahagia Fire Displaces Over 9,000 Residents as Blaze Destroys 1,000 Stilt Houses in Sandakan Water Village

Fires breaking out in densely populated water villages across Sabah have long posed a persistent threat to thousands of residents living in elevated stilt communities, where proximity between structures and limited access to open water sources create conditions that allow flames to spread rapidly before emergency services can establish effective containment. On April 19, 2026, one of the most severe incidents of this nature in recent memory unfolded in Sandakan, when a massive pre-dawn fire tore through Kampung Bahagia, a water village settlement, leaving more than 9,000 residents displaced and approximately 1,000 stilt houses destroyed within hours of the blaze igniting.

Sandakan District Police Confirm Kampung Bahagia Fire Declared a Disaster Zone by 4am

Authorities officially confirmed the scale of the Kampung Bahagia fire in a statement delivered at the scene by Sandakan District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner George Abd Rakman. Police received the initial fire report at 1:30am on April 19, 2026, and the affected area was formally declared a disaster zone by 4:00am — less than three hours after the blaze was first reported.

George Abd Rakman states that the settlement comprises approximately 1,200 houses in total, of which around 1,000 were affected by the fire. The confirmed number of displaced residents stands at 9,007. “The area comprises about 1,200 houses, of which approximately 1,000 were affected, involving 9,007 residents,” George Abd Rakman told reporters at the scene. “Thankfully, the fire was brought under control by the Fire and Rescue Department.”

Authorities also moved swiftly to address misinformation circulating on social media, with George Abd Rakman dismissing claims that the fire had resulted in fatalities. “There are claims of deaths. I wish to stress that, so far, I have not received any reports of loss of life. Those injured were likely hurt while trying to save their belongings or assisting others,” he stated.

Firefighting Operations Covered More Than Four Hectares, Hampered by Low Tide Conditions

The scale and complexity of the firefighting operation at Kampung Bahagia reflected the structural and environmental challenges unique to water village fires. Sandakan Fire and Rescue Station Chief Jimmy Lagung confirmed that the blaze engulfed an area exceeding four hectares — a significant coverage area that required a multi-resource response to bring under control.

According to Jimmy Lagung, low tide conditions at the time of the fire severely hampered efforts to secure an adequate open water source for firefighting operations. To compensate, fire crews drew on three separate water sources: seawater, water from a tanker, and a pressurised hydrant from a nearby factory. Four hose lines stretching a combined length of 1,000 feet were deployed, supported by 12 water jets operating simultaneously.

Additional reinforcements arrived from the Kinabatangan Fire Rescue Station, which deployed a Fire Rescue Tender equipped with two hose lines and four water jets. The operation concluded at noon on April 19, 2026 — approximately ten and a half hours after the initial report was received — and the cause of the fire remains under active investigation by the relevant authorities.

Disaster Management Efforts Coordinate Victim Registration, Evacuation, and Aid Distribution Across 9,007 Displaced Residents

The Kampung Bahagia fire has left 9,007 residents without shelter, triggering a coordinated multi-agency disaster management response focused on victim registration, evacuation, and the organised distribution of emergency aid. George Abd Rakman confirmed that authorities are actively coordinating these processes at the scene, with victim registration forming the immediate operational priority.

Disaster management efforts are being carried out in coordination with the Civil Defence Force and other relevant government agencies. The structured registration process is designed to ensure that all displaced residents are accounted for and can access emergency support in an orderly manner, preventing gaps in aid distribution across the more than 1,000 affected households.

The scale of displacement — with 9,007 individuals rendered homeless in a single overnight incident — places this event among the most significant fire-related disasters to affect a Malaysian water village settlement in recent years. Public records indicate this is not the first major fire to strike Kampung Bahagia, with reports noting this represents the third fire incident to hit the settlement, underscoring the recurring vulnerability of stilt house communities to rapid fire spread.

Kampung Bahagia Has Faced Repeated Fire Incidents, Reinforcing Longstanding Concerns Over Water Village Fire Safety

Public records show that the April 19, 2026 Kampung Bahagia fire is the third major fire incident to strike the water village settlement, a pattern that has drawn sustained attention to structural and emergency response vulnerabilities inherent in elevated stilt communities. The settlement, located in Sandakan, Sabah, houses a dense residential population in closely spaced timber structures built over water — a configuration that accelerates fire spread and complicates suppression efforts.

The confirmed destruction of approximately 1,000 of the settlement’s 1,200 houses — representing a destruction rate of approximately 83 percent of total structures — underscores the severity of conditions at the time of the blaze. Low tide, which restricted firefighting water access, and the density of wooden stilt construction are identified as key factors in the rapid escalation of the fire.

Registration records and official statements from the Sandakan District Police confirm that no fatalities have been reported as of the time of the official briefing, though some residents sustained injuries in the course of evacuating or assisting neighbours. Disaster response agencies, including the Civil Defence Force, are on the ground coordinating relief operations, with victim documentation and aid logistics progressing under multi-agency oversight.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Kampung Bahagia Fire

How many people were affected by the Kampung Bahagia fire on April 19, 2026? A total of 9,007 residents were displaced by the Kampung Bahagia fire on April 19, 2026, after approximately 1,000 stilt houses were destroyed in the water village settlement in Sandakan, Sabah.

What time did the Kampung Bahagia fire start and when was the area declared a disaster zone? Police received the initial report of the Kampung Bahagia fire at 1:30am on April 19, 2026. The affected area was formally declared a disaster zone by 4:00am on the same date, approximately two and a half hours after the fire was first reported.

Were there any deaths or fatalities reported in the Kampung Bahagia fire? Sandakan District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner George Abd Rakman confirmed that, as of the time of the official briefing, no fatalities had been reported. He explicitly dismissed social media claims of deaths, stating that injuries sustained were likely the result of residents attempting to save belongings or assist others during evacuation.

How large an area did the Kampung Bahagia fire destroy? Sandakan Fire and Rescue Station Chief Jimmy Lagung confirmed that the blaze engulfed an area of more than four hectares. Approximately 1,000 of the settlement’s 1,200 houses were affected, representing a destruction rate of approximately 83 percent of total structures.

What firefighting resources were used to control the Kampung Bahagia fire? Firefighting operations utilised seawater, water from a tanker, and a pressurised hydrant from a nearby factory. Four hose lines totalling 1,000 feet in length and 12 water jets were deployed. A Fire Rescue Tender from the Kinabatangan station provided additional support with two hose lines and four water jets. The operation concluded at noon on April 19, 2026.

What made the Kampung Bahagia fire difficult to fight? Low tide conditions at the time of the blaze significantly hampered access to open water sources, forcing firefighters to source water from multiple alternative supplies, including tankers and a factory hydrant. The dense, closely spaced timber stilt construction of the water village also contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

Is the Kampung Bahagia fire the first major fire to hit this settlement? No. Reports indicate that the April 19, 2026 fire is the third major fire incident to strike Kampung Bahagia, highlighting a recurring pattern of fire vulnerability within the water village settlement.

What relief efforts are underway for Kampung Bahagia fire victims? Authorities are coordinating victim registration for evacuation purposes and the distribution of emergency aid. Disaster management operations are being conducted in collaboration with the Civil Defence Force and other relevant government agencies, with a structured registration process in place to ensure all 9,007 displaced residents are accounted for and can access support.

The Kampung Bahagia fire of April 19, 2026 stands as a significant disaster event in Sabah, displacing 9,007 residents across more than 1,000 destroyed stilt houses in a single overnight incident. With the cause of the fire still under investigation and disaster relief operations continuing under multi-agency coordination, developments are expected to be monitored closely by state and federal authorities. Residents and members of the public seeking information on disaster relief, victim registration, or emergency assistance are advised to contact the Sandakan District Police or the Civil Defence Force through official government channels.