KUDAT, Jan. 24 -- Three people, including an elderly couple, were killed in two separate fire incidents in Kudat and Semporna.

In Kudat, an elderly couple died after failing to escape from their burning house at Kampung Lausan.

Kudat Fire and Rescue Station (Bomba) chief Darikson Galanang said the charred remains of the couple, both in their 70s, were found in a bedroom about an hour after the incident, which occurred at 11.50pm yesterday.

"Our station received a distress call at 11.58pm and 10 firefighters from our station and eight volunteer firefighters from Kg Ayer rushed to the location, reaching the location about half an hour.

"Bomba personnel faced difficulty to reach the location due to the narrow bridge and low electric wire...