Pahang Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Mohd Sani Harul said the body was found in front of the two-storey shophouse at 6am.

Firemen are still searching for the woman’s husband, who was also believed to have been trapped in the blaze.

Sani said the shophouse was occupied by the couple, Chow Kim Mui, 70, and Ho Yok Fun, 74.

“We believe that the charred body belonged to the wife as women’s accessories were found on the remains.

“We also believe that she had fallen from the building’s balcony during the blaze,” he said.

A K9 dog unit would be used to trace the woman’s husband, he added.

The elderly couple were running a restaurant there and were preparing for their youngest son’s wedding next week, Ho’s younger brother Ho Yok Kam, 69, said.

He said the couple had four children, comprising two daughters and two sons, all of whom lived elsewhere.

The fire destroyed 20 shophouses, 11 one-storey quarters and a library, all of which were believed to be about 100 years old.

The fire, which is believed to have started in one of the homes, was put out at 3.45am by a team of 67 firemen from the Kuantan, Indera Mahkota, Taman Tas and Gebeng fire stations.

Sani said the fire had spread rapidly because the buildings were made of wood.

Kuantan district officer Tengku Nor Asmaliza Ku Lah said all other occupants of the buildings were being temporarily housed at the hall of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C) Sungai Lembing.

The Regent of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim, accompanied by Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and other state leaders, visited the scene and requested relevant agencies to take action to assist the 53 people from 29 families.

Emergency assistance of RM1,000 has been approved for each of the families.