SIXTEEN stalls at the Lorong Bukit Dumbar hawker centre in George Town were destroyed in an early morning fire on Friday (Jan 5).
In a statement on Facebook, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) said the centre sustained about 80% damage in the blaze.
"The Fire and Rescue Department received a distress call at 5.32am and managed to control and extinguish the blaze within 30 minutes," the statement said.
The operation involved teams from the Jalan Perak, Paya Terubong and Lebuh Pantai fire stations assisted by volunteer fire brigades from the area, it added.
To ensure safety, Tenaga Nasional Berhad cut electricity supply to the centre while investigating officers inspected the premises.
MBPP also expressed its sympathies to the 16 hawkers for the losses they sustained.
Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran visited the site later in the morning with MBPP councilors and department heads.
