KOTA KINABALU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A teenager died while trying to save her grandmother who was trapped in their burning house in Putatan, a town in Sabah.

The charred remains of Nurul Farhana Zulkifli, 15, was found in an embrace with her 86-year-old grandmother, Tiah Awang near the main door.

Tiah's house was among the three houses that were destroyed in the fire which was believed to have been caused by a short circuit at about 8pm last Thursday (May 19).

Tiah and Nurul lived together in one house while Nurul's parents and brother lived in another house just beside theirs.

According to a relative whose house was spared, Rosnizah Ngadiman, 36, she was cooking when she suddenly heard screams of "Nurul, Nurul!" by the girl's father Hamid who lived in the adjoining house.

"I heard my cousin Hamid scream but I was not aware that their house was on fire," said the housewife, who thought there was a fight.

However, when she looked out of the window she realised it was a fire.

"I immediately alerted my husband and children as well as the others to get out of the house," Rosnizah said.

Sabah Fire and Rescue Department Public Relations chief Khatizah Rahaban said firemen from the Penampang and Kota Kinabalu stations rushed to the scene following a distress call at about 8.29pm.

Investigations into the cause of the incident are underway.