GEORGE TOWN, May 30 (Bernama) -- A nightclub operating in the former Odeon cinema building along Jalan Penang caught fire tonight, sending thick smoke billowing into the sky, visible from over five kilometres away.
The Penang Fire and Rescue Department's Operations Control Centre said it received an emergency call regarding the blaze at 8.50 pm.
"Upon arrival, firefighters found the fire raging. The two-storey premises cover an area of 1,393.54 square metres, and currently operate as a nightclub called Midnight Black.
"As of 10.45 pm, an estimated 50 per cent of the premises have been destroyed. The Operations Response Team is currently conducting fire containment and extinguishing work at the location," the department said in a statement tonight.
A total of 25 personnel are involved in the operation, supported by various assets, such as EMRS and an Aerial Ladder Platform, as well as more than 10 volunteer fire brigade units.
Meanwhile, Tanjung MP Lim Hui Ying said she and Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow rushed to the scene immediately after being alerted to the fire.
"So far, no injuries or casualties have been reported. Thanks to the Lebuh Pantai Fire Station and volunteer fire brigades for their swift response," she said in a Facebook post tonight, also thanking all agencies involved in the operation.
The fire at the building, which originally housed one of Penang's most iconic theatres, also triggered severe traffic jams across George Town.
First known as the Theatre Royal, then King's Theatre, it became the Odeon Cinema and remained a key part of the state's entertainment scene since the early 1900s.
In 1940, it underwent a major upgrade, reopening with state-of-the-art projection, sound, and air conditioning.
Over the years, it screened Hollywood blockbusters, classics, Chinese and Hong Kong action films, as well as Tamil and Hindi movies.
The cinema closed its doors on July 31, 2014, ending the legacy of one of Malaysia's last single-screen cinemas dedicated to Indian-language films.
-- BERNAMA
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