ALOR STAR: A fire gutted eight units on the top floor of a dilapidated Taman Setia Jaya flat block along Jalan Langgar here today, with residents voicing fears over neglect that have left the block in deplorable condition.
Residents said the block, believed to be more than 30 years old, had long been abandoned on its upper floor and was overrun by drug addicts, vermin and piles of garbage.
Post-fire checks found heaps of rubbish, dangerous damaged infrastructure and units left exposed with doors missing.
One resident, who requested anonymity, said the blaze only heightened long-standing concerns.
“The whole top floor has become a drug den. Junkies were seen fleeing when the fire broke out. I don’t think it was faulty wiring, the roof is already damaged and nobody lives there.
“Perhaps the fire started from the drug addicts, but we can’t be sure until the authorities investigate,” the resident said.
Others claimed the floor had been left vacant for years with little intervention from authorities to address their plight.
Earlier, Kedah Fire and Rescue Department Zone 1 chief Ahmad said a distress call was received at 1.22pm, and engines arrived nine minutes later.
He said the blaze involved eight vacant units on the fourth floor and destroyed about 90 per cent of the affected area.
“No casualties were reported. Firefighters brought the situation under control at 1.45pm and the operation was fully completed by 4.01pm,” he said in a statement today.
The incident has renewed unease over deteriorating flats in Alor Star, where run-down housing blocks and poor maintenance have been recurring complaints among residents for years.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
