SEMPORNA: A total of 196 people from 30 families were left homeless after their stilt houses in Kampung Simunul Lorong 3 collapsed this morning.
Semporna police chief Farhan Lee Abdullah said 30 houses were destroyed, including 28 that housed 190 locals and two more occupied by six foreign nationals.
“The incident occurred at 10.15am, starting with the collapse of two houses. This was followed by others, due to their adjoining structure,” he said in a statement today.
Farhan said the collapse was likely triggered by strong winds and large waves experienced on July 8, which had already caused two houses to tilt.
He said 33 police reports have been received over today’s incident.