Residents have reported hearing explosions moments before a fire broke out in an Asian grocery store on the ground floor of a Melbourne apartment building on Monday morning.
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Fire broke out in the seven-storey building on the corner of Victoria and Elizabeth streets, near the Queen Victoria Market, about 2am, forcing the evacuation of 50 residents and holidaymakers in the adjoining backpacker hostel.
The residents of the apartment building may not be able to return home for several days, MFB commander Rick Gili said.
One resident told radio station 3AW he had no time to grab any belongings as he ran to safety.
"I ran out without my pants on," the man said.
The fire did not spread to the upper floors of the building, but the 24 apartments were heavily affected by smoke.
The damage bill is expected to top $1.5 million.
The residents were allowed to return to their apartments briefly to gather their belongings, before Melbourne City Council found them temporary accommodation at the Multicultural Hub on Therry Street.
A council spokeswoman said 46 residents had registered at the nearby evacuation centre, but most had left for work or since made other arrangements.
Others were sleeping inside, flanked by boxes of toiletries and other belongings.
They have been told they will be unable to return on Monday.
The fire appears to have been most vicious on the Victoria Street side of the building, with smoke damage visible as high as the second floor.
The Korea Town Mart on the ground floor would be unrecognisable were it not for the shelves in some aisles miraculously remaining upright, still holding brightly coloured cups of noodles.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
"The damage is just too extensive for us to see what caused the fire at this stage," Mr Gili said.
Investigations are continuing.
With Nino Bucci
