Firefighters struggle to contain the inferno as it spreads to neighboring buildings.
Firefighters valiantly combat raging fire that engulfs Manchester Road’s shoe factory and adjacent businesses. Image (SABC News)
(The Post News)- A Catastrophic fire has ravaged Pietermaritzburg, leaving a trail of destruction in its initiated an investigation into the cause of the blaze, which originated at a shoe factory on Manchester Road. Fanned by strong winds, the fire rapidly spread to adjacent buildings, threatening to engulf an entire block of family-owned factories and stores.
Emergency services spokesperson Nontobeko Mkhize confirmed that the magnitude of the damage is still being assessed. Despite the challenges posed by the fire’s size, firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the blaze, with additional resources deployed by the uMgungundlovu fire department.
While several businesses were impacted, fortunately, no casualties were reported. The investigation into the fire’s cause is ongoing, with business owners already picking up the pieces and looking towards recovery. The fire has resulted in significant losses, with estimates suggesting millions of rands in damages. Affected businesses include A1 Wholesalers, DM Property Group, Divine Shoe Factory, and a tire store.
Businessman Marlin Pillay, who witnessed the fire’s onset, expressed disappointment that the initial response was insufficient, citing inadequate water supplies. He believes the fire could have been extinguished earlier if the necessary resources were available.
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