A spokesman from the Sarawak fire and rescue department said its operations centre received a call at 2.50am.

“Upon arriving at the scene, nearby residents who had gathered outside informed us that there was a victim trapped inside the single-storey house.

“Firefighters then launched a search and rescue operation, and found a man who was unconscious under the rubble,” the spokesman said in a statement.

The victim, identified as Lim Inn Tong, 58, was removed from the debris at 4.05am and was confirmed dead by a medical officer at the scene.

“The body was subsequently handed over to the police for further action. Investigations will be conducted to determine the cause of the incident,” the spokesman added.