JERANTUT, April 26 -- A retiree in Kampung Bukit Genting is facing a double tragedy after her home was destroyed in a fire just 10 days after the death of her husband.

The blaze, which occurred around 1.30pm yesterday, also wiped out preparations for her son's wedding planned for August, Malay news outlet BH reported today.

"I was inside the house when I suddenly smelled something strange and saw smoke coming from the back. When I checked, the fire was already raging and had started burning stored old items like rags. It spread quickly, burning wooden structures and old belongings about five metres from where I was," Rusdah Jantan, 61, was quoted as saying.

She said she and her two daughters tried to put out the fire using a hose, but ...