Penang’s Odeon cinema building catches fire

 Firefighters are still trying to put out the blaze which broke out this evening in the building, which has been turned into a nightclub.

Firefighters have been battling a fire which is believed to have damaged half of the distinctive 20th century cinema building. (JBPM pics)

PETALING JAYA:

Firemen in Penang are working to put out a fire that they estimate has destroyed half of the century-old Odeon cinema.

The two-storey building, which was turned into a nightlife entertainment spot, caught fire earlier tonight.

The Penang fire and rescue department said an emergency call was received at 8.50pm and firefighters arrived at the site in Upper Penang Road in George Town 10 minutes later.

No casualties have been reported so far.

The Odeon, which dates back to the early 20th century, screened Hollywood classics and Malay films throughout the 1940s to the 1960s. It closed around 1999–2001 and remained vacant for a few years and was revived to screen mainly Tamil movies. The final screening was reported to be in July 2014 and the building was later turned into an interactive museum, cafe and nightclub. - FMT