Fire guts upper floor of 100-year-old pre-war shoplots in Kuantan

KUANTAN: A devastating fire engulfed the upper floors of two century-old pre-war shoplots, including a clothing store, on Jalan Mahkota in Kuantan last night. The fire was reported at 11.33pm to the Pahang Fire and Rescue Department, which dispatched a team from the Kuantan fire station. Upon arrival, the flames had already taken hold on the upper floor of Unit No. 43, a clothing shop, and had spread to the upper level of the adjoining premises, said the director of the fire department, Datuk Mohd Razam Taja Rahim.

Preliminary investigations suggested the fire began on the upper floor of the clothing store, while the ground level suffered minimal damage. Firefighters worked tirelessly to dampen the blaze and prevent rekindling, with no issues arising from water supply and no casualties reported. The cause of the fire and the total losses remain under investigation by the Fire Investigation Unit of the department.

Both structures were over a century old and primarily made of timber, which contributed to the rapid spread of the flames. The operation required the efforts of 33 firefighters from various stations in Kuantan, including Kuantan, Indera Mahkota, Gebeng, Taman Tas, and Peramu. The clothing shop owner, Norhan Mohd Nor, 51, learned of the fire at 11.30pm and arrived at the scene 15 minutes later.

He explained that the premises functioned as a central storage and distribution center for his two outlets in Kuantan, holding a substantial amount of newly stocked inventory for the upcoming festivities. Many of these goods had just arrived, and the shop served as the primary point of distribution for other outlets, leading to significant losses for Norhan.