A cook makes a distress call to the fire department as flames engulf the wooden structure. — Photo courtesy of Jude Jong
KUCHING: A popular seafood centre at Jalan Batu Lintang was destroyed by fire yesterday, resulting in substantial damage but no casualties.
The fire at the decades-old wooden structure started at about 5.45pm at one of the three drink stalls and it quickly engulfed the entire structure, including two seafood stalls, within minutes.
No injuries were reported as there were not many customers at the time due to the fact that the stalls were in the midst of re-opening following the Chinese New Year break.
The owner of the drinks stall where the fire first broke out, a sixty-something man surnamed Yap, said he initially tried to get his stove started to boil water but was unable to despite several attempts.
Thinking that he had run out of gas, he then stepped outside to make a call to order a fresh cylinder, but only to return a few minutes later to see his stall in flames.
“I immediately shouted to the other stall owners for help and they all rushed over to try to put out the fire. However, the flames spread so fast and we could not do anything except flee and call the fire department,” said Yap when met after the incident.
A team from the nearby Batu Lintang fire station arrived at the scene within minutes of receiving a distress call at 5.51pm.
A Bomba spokesperson said the situation was brought under control at 6.02pm and the flames fully extinguished at 6.14pm.
Total loss suffered by the stall owners has yet to be ascertained.
Representatives from Kuching South City Council were present at the scene after being alerted of the incident and later informed the stall owners on behalf of mayor Datuk James Chan, who they said was overseas, that the council would look to rebuilt the structure ‘as soon as possible’.