Customers and employees of the Shoppers Fair Supermarket on Sevens Road in May Pen, Clarendon, were sent scampering during a heavy downpour yesterday afternoon when the roof of the building collapsed.

According some employees, around 3 p.m. there was a loud explosion and seconds later, the roof came tumbling down.

It is suspected that the roof was hit by a bolt of lightning.

"It happened so fast, one minute we hear the loud explosion and the next the roof was down upon us, but God allowed us to rush outside to safety," said one employee, pointing inside the darkened store during the pouring rain.

The police and other emergency personnel who were quick on the scene, cordoned off the area to keep onlookers at a safe distance.

They also reported that noxious gases had started to escape from the premises.