The aftermath: Businesses lost in shopping centre blaze
What we know:
- Sunday 7.15pm: Fire breaks out at Whitsunday Shopping Centre on Shute Harbour Rd
- A witness said they thought the fire started in Target
- A firefighter was treated for exhaustion by paramedics
- Businesses destroyed by last night's blaze: Target Country, Westpac Bank, Commonwealth Bank, ANZ Bank, Suncorp Bank, Marino's Deli, Glambox Hair Studio, Art Whitsunday and Urban Village Homewares
- Monday 7.30am: Investigations will start into the cause of the fire
- Monday 12.45pm: A Queensland Police spokeswoman says investigations are still continuing into the cause of last night's blaze, after this morning declaring it a crime scene. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
At 6am, smoke was still pouring out of the complex that was destroyed by fire, which ignited just after 7pm last night.
Staff from nearby businesses assessed the damage early this morning, where police had set up a crime scene.
Residents gathered early this morning, still in shock at the extensive damage caused by the inferno.
Businesses destroyed by last night's blaze are:
- Target Country
- Westpac Bank
- Commonwealth Bank
- ANZ Bank
- Suncorp Bank
- Marino's Deli
- Glambox Hair Studio
- Art Whitsunday
- Urban Village Homewares
As the scene is still being guarded by police, it is unsure of when business owners will be able to access what remains of their stores to assess the damage.
Art gallery destroyed
Art Whitsunday Shop and Gallery staff members have shared their grief on Facebook after losing their shop in the devastating fire overnight.
"Tonight we all share in the deepest grief over the loss of our beautiful and unique gallery," their Facebook post last night read.
"A massive fire earlier this evening tore through the Whitsunday shopping complex utterly destroying many shops including our gallery," the art gallery's Facebook post said.
"We haven't yet been allowed on site to see if anything survived, but considering the heat of the inferno I fear there will be nothing left to salvage except some broken shards of glass, pottery and some twisted lumps of metal.
"To all the artists who have lost everything our hearts go out to you and we will find a way to go on somehow even though it may take us a while to pick up the broken pieces. Our thoughts are with you all."
More to come.
