Tawau: A row of 14 ]houses in Taman Semarak here were destroyed in a fire, Wednesday.

Tawau Fire and Rescue Department operations chief Norhani Jumdani said there were no tenants at the shop houses during the noon fire.

Norhani said 20 fire fighters in three fire engines were deployed to the scene and managed to bring the fire under control in an hour.

"We managed to prevent the fire from spreading to other shops nearby," Norhani told reporters at the scene.

Meanwhile, Gerakan Vice President Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah who visited the victims expressed disappointment with some irresponsible people who vandalised public property, including fire hydrants.

--Courtesy of The Daily Express