LABUAN: Fifteen wooden shops at the old market here were destroyed in a fire yesterday morning.
The fire and rescue station at Kampung Jawa sent 19 personnel to the scene after receiving a distress call at 4.29am, according to officer in charge Azlan Talimi.
“We only managed to save six of the 16 shoplots in the first block. Five shoplots in the second block were also affected,” he said, adding that the cause of the fire and losses had not been determined.
One of the victims, Haji Sameon Luggi, said among the merchandise destroyed in his shop was RM3,000 worth of garments he had received from The Philippines on Tuesday.
Sameon said he had been trading at the decades-old market for 27 years.
Jamaluddin Saik Nathar, 47, was luckier as his shop was only slightly affected by the smoke and water, which caused some damage to his merchandise.
“Most of the traders here are selling sarongs, shirts, bags and souvenirs, while some are tailors,” said Jamaluddin who deals in sarongs and souvenirs.
“Those affected by the fire cannot claim insurance as the shoplots were built with wood,” he said, adding that one of the victims whose shop was in the same block as his had just started selling souvenirs two months ago after obtaining the licence.
It is learnt that the fire was the fifth to hit the market.
Meanwhile, Labuan member of parliament Datuk Yussof Mahal, who was at the scene, pledged to help the victims by rebuilding the two blocks of shops.
He also gave immediate assistance of RM1,000 to each of the victims.