Business owners in Tobago are counting their losses after fire partially destroyed a drag mall in Scarborough. According to reports, fire was seen coming from the back of Cromarty's Drag Mall on Wilson Road, between the Scarborough Market and KFC at around midnight.
Eyewitnesses say they heard a crackling sound and on checking discovered that one of the stores was engulfed in flames. The Scarborough Fire Station was summoned and responded within 15 minutes. Out of the 30 businesses located on the compound, only nine booths suffered extensive fire damage, while others suffered water damage.
A fire official told the T&T Guardian that while a major incident was averted, poor housekeeping and stringent security measures at the mall posed a challenge to officers, which resulted in loss of time while an alternative point of entry was created. However, fire officers were able to contained the blaze with an hour.
The exact cause of the fire is unknown. Preliminary estimates have put losses at more than $500,000.
