PETALING AYA: An explosion rocked the Ng Yam Huat Food Court in Taman Ciku, Bukit Mertajam at 8:30am on Sunday (Oct 27), damaging many stalls.
The blast, which occurred in the kitchen area at the rear of the food court, damaged the zinc roofing, collapsed a section of the kitchen wall and shattered the glass of several hawker stalls.
There were no casualties from the incident and the owner who was at the back of the kitchen's baking area escaped unharmed.
More than 10 people were dining when the explosion occurred but all escaped unharmed, reported Sin Chew Daily.
Owner Ng Chin Kui, 46, said he was preparing to bake buns when he pressed the power switch, triggering the blast.
"I was temporarily blinded and experienced ringing in my ears.
"I could not react and I just stood there," he said, relieved to have avoided injury.
Ng noted he usually begins preparations at 5:30am and finishes at 10pm.
"This morning, I noticed a faint smell of gas but didn't think much of it because I'm used to smelling gas once in a while here for so long.
"I never imagined that switching on the baking machine would cause such an explosion," he said.
Ng was alone in the kitchen as usual on a Sunday while another worker attended to customers outside.
The explosion also affected about five hawker stalls in the food court which has over 70 tables and 12 food stalls.
A hawker selling Hokkien Mee quoted as Ng said it was her first major incident in over 10 years of business.
The explosion shattered her stall's glass when Ng and her 17-year-old son were at the stall.
"We were preparing ingredients when suddenly there was a loud bang, causing the glass to break. Fortunately, neither of us was injured," she said.
The loud blast also alarmed nearby residents and hawkers, drawing curious onlookers to the scene.
The food court has temporarily suspended operations for repairs, while authorities investigate the cause of the explosion.
