Utusan reported that the boy was found dead four hours after the fire in Kampung Jati, Batu 5, Jalan Apas, was first reported.

Tawau fire and rescue station chief Jemishin Ujin said they received an emergency call at about 1am and sent 25 fire-fighters to the location.

He said 38 homes were already razed by the time they arrived and they took an hour and 30 minutes to put out the fire.

“The five-year-old boy was found dead at 4.50am. The boy’s remains have been handed over to the police for further action,” he said in a statement today.

In a separate case, 11 water village houses in Kota Belud were razed in a fire at about 4am.

Kota Belud fire and rescue station chief Syazwan Latun said they sent 13 personnel to the location, around 20km from the station.

He said no casualties were reported.