LAHAD DATU, March 20 — Three men believed to be foreigners died of suffocation while hiding themselves at a fish market, here this morning.

According to a police source, the three unidentified foreigners were allegedly hiding at the fish market to avoid being detained by authorities when they realised that a crackdown against illegal immigrants was being carried out by security forces at around 8am.

According to him, the three victims who were believed to be unconscious due to the lack of air were discovered by the public a few hours later.

However, several other individuals who were hiding there did not suffer any injuries, he added.

Meanwhile Sabah Fire and Rescue public relations officer Mohd Affendy Kamin in a statement said they received an emergency call regarding the incident at 10.46am.

“Four members with a fire-engine arrived at the scene three minutes later and found that all the victims had been removed by the public and sent to Lahad Datu Hospital where they were pronounced dead,” he said. — Bernama