KOTA BARU (Bernama): A motorcycle workshop proprietor has been left devastated after more than 40 of his customers' motorcycles, worth over RM100,000 in total, were destroyed in a fire in Jalan Sultan Sultanah Zainab here.

       Wee Jit Hwa, 38, said the 30-year-old workshop that was started by his father, as well as 10 houses and four other shoplots nearby, were razed in the 7.22pm fire on Tuesday (Nov 9) night.

       "I was not at the shop during the incident as I had gone out to buy food.

       "I started getting calls from neighbours and friends informing me about the fire. I tried to go back, but the fire was raging.

       "Now, I am worried about the losses incurred and how to inform my customers about (the losses)," he told reporters when met at Masjid Pakistan here on Wednesday (Nov 10), adding that even his spare parts inventory was destroyed.

       According to the father of one, repairing motorcycles was his only source of income and he could earn up to RM300 a day.

       Earlier, Kelantan Imam Besar, Ustaz Muhammad Hana Pizi Abdullah, representing the state Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council, presented financial assistance of RM14,000 to the fire victims to ease their burden.

       On Tuesday, it was reported that the Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department despatched 70 firemen from the Kota Baru, Tunjong, Kota Darul Naim, Wakaf Bharu, Pengkalan Kubor, Tanah Merah dan Pasir Tumboh fire stations to the scene after receiving a distress call.

       The fire was brought under control at 9.06 pm, and no casualties were reported in the incident. – Bernama