KOTA KINABALU: Hundreds of shoppers and staff were evacuated from Suria Sabah when the exhaust duct of a nasi lemak and satay stall at the food court on the third floor burst into flames and exploded yesterday.
Retail staff in the shopping mall immediately ceased operation, while drivers rushed to remove hundreds of vehicles parked in the multi-storey carpark at the mall.
Fortunately, the stall operator and security personnel remained calm amid the chaos and ran into the kitchen with fire extinguishers to put out the flames, thereby preventing the fire from spreading.
City police chief ACP M. Chandra said the fire which happened at 3.10pm was an accident and ruled out foul play.
According to an employee of a food stall, the nasi lemak and satay chef was believed to be cooking in the kitchen.
In the process, flames from the stove came into contact with the accumulated grease in the exhaust duct, resulting in the fire and subsequently a minor explosion.
The heavy smoke triggered the fire alarm in the whole shopping mall. Retailers immediately shut their shops while shoppers ran out of the mall.
Meanwhile, Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson Affendy Ramin said the department received a distress call at 3.14pm and immediately dispatched three fire trucks to the location.