To many in Penampang, the Servay hypermarket was a lifesaver and a strategic shopping place. Low price and a variety of items, you can do a whole month of shopping under 1 roof. Yesterday, on the magical date of 20.08.2008, the building was taken down by an inferno that started from the first floor. I was at home when I received an MMS showing the top part of the building on fire. I didn’t know it would be so bad that the whole building would be gone by morning.

Here’s an eyewitness account from a shopper name Stanley Christian, who’s email was forwarded to me:

I was inside the building and trying to buy some goods and all the suddent the fire alarm on alert and there were an announcement saying the building on fire. So people are running to get out from the building and for God sake, someone shouting at us to run faster and darn, we have to run like a sprinter getting out from the building.

Here’s some picture taken (sorry for the low quality and visibility..), using my cheap mobile phone..(ke..ke..)…i forgot my camera which i left it in my bag at home.

But the feeling is there watching all the things inside burned, without anything survived (except the person selling mobile phone where she managed to get her phones into a plastic bag and run out from the building). The fire started on the roof at the back of the building. Caused? unknown..let the authorities determine the source.

According to the news report, the fire started from the first floor store room. If I was there and was queueing to pay, I’d run out with my shopping cart, straight to my car but of course, that would be greedy and selfish since there would be helter skelter and I don’t think I can push any carts through.

I just feel lucky my heavily pregnant wife and me weren’t there last night.

Videos and pictures after the jump.

and some videos (not posted by me, via ben)