According to Civil Defence Force’s (APM) Sandakan Zone officer Ahmad Roslan Mohd Kamel, one of the occupants Mohd Sharil Jaya noticed at about 3.25pm that the house he was staying in with his family and seven other families was gradually descending.

Sharil immediately contacted the Sandakan emergency line to call for help.

An APM team arrived at the location in Kampung Sim-Sim at about 3.40am and managed to get all 30 occupants out of the house by 4.20am.

“Nobody was hurt in the incident. Unfortunately, we could not get any of the possessions out of the house because the power supply was still on,” he said.

He said they did not want to risk electrocution and only state power company Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd could turn the supply off.

Meanwhile, Elopura assemblyman Frankie Poon said he had rushed to the scene soon after finishing his meeting with the youth and sports ministry’s departments.

“There were 30 people from eight families living in that one house. I have contacted the Welfare Department to assist them,” he said.

He said the victims would temporarily stay with their relatives while his office tried to find a solution to further assist them, including providing them with low-cost housing such as in a people’s housing project (PPRT).

“I hope the Welfare Department and the Sandakan district council will take immediate action to help them,” Poon said.