JASIN – Six shophouses, believed to be more than 100 years old, in Pekan Umbai here were razed in a fire yesterday evening.
Melaka Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Supt II Muhammad Izwan Arief Mat Noh said 33 personnel and five fire engines were deployed to the scene.
He said the team comprised firefighters from the Merlimau, Padang Temu and Bukit Katil stations.
The blaze, which started at 7.19pm, destroyed a row of shops, including a hardware store, grocery store and motorcycle workshop, he said.
“We faced difficulties putting out the fire due to a lack of water supply, but we received help from other stations,” he told reporters at the scene last night.
“The fire was extinguished at 8.16pm.”
No casualties were reported, and investigations into the cause of the blaze are under way. – Bernama, October 12, 2020