2 family members perish in Gerik fire

GERIK: Two members of a family perished in a fire at a double-storey house in Taman Sinaran here, early today.
Perak Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Yahaya Madis said the victims, both female, aged 52 and 12 years, were believed to have been overcome by smoke in the 3.30am incident.
He said a fire truck with eight personnel arrived at the scene, four minutes following a distress call at 3.33am. According to him, neighbours initially broke into the house to rescue the trapped victims.
"The victims were found in a room on the upper floor but were already lifeless," he said in a statement here today.
He said the firefighters took about one hour to extinguish the flames and ended the operation around 5am.
The victims have yet to be identified. The remains had been referred to police for further action, Yahaya added. — Bernama