Three escape blaze at business centre

KUALA TERENGGANU: Three people escaped uninjured after a fire broke out at the Pusat Paya Keladi business centre here.
 
Ng Kok Hwa, 70, who sells watches from a shop on the ground floor, was watching television before the incident happened at around 4.30pm Tuesday (Jan 23).
 
“I smelled smoke but thought someone was burning rubbish,” he said.
 
After his 65-year-old wife and 54-year-old sister complained that the smell of smoke was getting stronger, the trio ran down from their unit on the first floor.
 
“We saw fire and rescue personnel putting out the blaze in the next unit and only then did we realise how serious it was,” he said.
 
Meanwhile, the owner of the ill-fated unit said there was a blackout before the fire.
 
Tay Chin Hong, 47, who runs a hardware store next to Ng’s shop, said one of his workers saw smoke at the storeroom on the first floor.
 
A total of 47 personnel from Kuala Terengganu, Jalan Kota and Marang fire stations were at the scene and are working to put out the fire as of 9pm.
 
A representative said  low water pressure and the crowded storeroom posed challenges to the team.