Malaysia: Fire Traps Warden, Students in Besut Tahfiz Dormitory

A harrowing incident unfolded at the Madrasah Tahfiz Nurul Mukhtar in Kampung Gong Kepas Dalam, Besut, where a fire in the dormitory building placed a warden and five students in a perilous situation. The close call, which occurred around 8:40 AM, saw the group trapped on the second floor as flames engulfed the structure.

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Ketika kejadian saya bersama dengan lima pelajar berada di tingkat dua sedang berbincang beberapa perkara sebelum terdengar bunyi tingkap pecah, susulan itu saya minta seorang pelajar ke tingkat bawah untuk lihat apa yang berlaku.

Warden Muhammad Syahril Muhammad Shamsudin recounted the terrifying moments when the sound of breaking glass alerted them to the danger. He had asked a student to investigate, but before the student could descend, they saw the fire rapidly spreading from the lower levels of the building where they were gathered.

Despite their immediate efforts to use fire extinguishers, the blaze intensified quickly, consuming a mattress storage room. The group then contacted the fire department for assistance. The quick response from the Besut and Jertih fire stations helped contain the fire, though it caused extensive damage, estimated at 80%, to the three-story, semi-permanent structure.

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Bagaimanapun pelajar tersebut tidak sempat turun selepas melihat api mula marak dari bahagian tepi bangunan tingkat dua tempat kami berkumpul.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of boarding facilities, especially those housing young students. The bravery of the warden and students in attempting to control the fire before seeking professional help is commendable. Fortunately, due to their quick actions and the swift response of the fire brigade, a potential tragedy was averted.

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Kebakaran melibatkan sebuah asrama tahfiz tiga tingkat jenis separuh kekal dengan anggaran kemusnahan sekitar 80 peratus.