MACHANG: A restaurant owner in Bandar Machang suffered losses of over RM50,000 after two shoplots he rented were destroyed in a fire yesterday.
According to Zulfikar Mokhtar, 46, before the incident 1pm incident, he was heating water as initial preparations and left momentarily to meet someone near the shop for internet installation.
"Within five minutes, I heard a very loud explosion and rushed to the kitchen area, only to be shocked to see the flames already spreading.
"I tried to retrieve some important documents, but the intense fire caused my right eyebrow and hair to be singed.
"Worried about the situation, I quickly left the burning shop, and nothing could be saved," he said when met at the scene.
Zulfikar said the distance from his house to the shop was only 500m, causing his wife, Rohana Abd Wahab, 43, who was getting ready to go to the shop at that time, to quickly leave upon hearing a loud explosion.
"Amidst the chaos, someone contacted the nearest fire station, but luckily no casualties occurred.
"It was fortunate there were no customers during that time in the shop since the shop, which sells hot meals, opens at 3pm," he said.
Zulfikar said his business, which has been operating for 12 years, was his main source of income with his wife to support the family.
"I am now at a loss as to how to restart the restaurant business," he said.