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Picture courtesy: ( Antonio Muchave) emergency personnel Extinguishes on M1 freeway.
(The Post News)– An underground fire that started near Braamfontein along the M1 freeway has been effectively suppressed by the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services. Authorities believe that attempted cable theft and underneath infrastructure sabotage may have started the fire. There are hiccups in the vicinity because the highway is still restricted to traffic despite the containment.
EMS Spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi has stated that actions are being taken to put out hot spots and guarantee the area’s safety. Although Mulaudzi highlighted that no injuries or fatalities had been reported, he asked residents to be on guard and report any suspicious activities involving the city’s infrastructure.
“We are extinguishing the hot spots. from there we will continue to check along the tunnel if if it will be safe or far for our colleagues. And the City Power will start conducting their assessment. In the mean time we can confirm that there were no injuries or fatalities which were reported”. We continue to plead with our residents to report any vandalism or tempering of the city’s infrastructure, he added.
Drivers are urged to stay off Empire Road and the Crown Interchange until further notice as the M1 freeway remains closed. Since the early hours of Wednesday morning, the underground fire has been pouring billows of smoke, waking up the residents of Braamfontein to a sky full of smoke. Commuters are experiencing inconvenience due to the incident, which has affected traffic on the M1 freeway in both directions. In addition, City Power has verified that the fire has caused power disruptions in a number of suburbs, including Braamfontein, Melville, and Vrededorp.
Authorities are still working to put out the fire, however they have succeeded in reopening the M1 highway’s northbound lanes. Robert Mulaudzi, the spokesperson for emergency management, predicts that the roadway will fully reopen by Wednesday night.
Now that the fire has been contained, City Power and the Johannesburg Roads Agency may start evaluating the extent of the damage it has caused. Residents of Johannesburg are asked to cooperate with emergency services and exercise caution while officials continue to deal the consequences of the underground fire near the M1 expressway. The necessity of protecting vital infrastructure from theft and vandalism is highlighted by the investigation into the fire’s cause. As things go, regular updates from city officials are anticipated.
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