Durban – A massive fire gutted a Durban warehouse in South Coast Road near the port on Friday morning – and fire fighters are still battling to contain the blaze.
More than 20 fire trucks are at the scene and emergency services were busy evacuating people out of the neighbouring buildings, in a desparate bid to contain the flames. The fire has spread to a second neighbouring warehouse
The warehouse, a wax factory, spewed a massive pall of smoke over the harbour and the city. The black cloud over the could be seen as far as Ballito on the North Coast.
A massive pall of black smoke hangs over Durban. The fire at a wax factory in South Coast Road has been blazing since 8am and is still ablaze as fire fighters desperately try to stop it spreading to neighbouring buildings. Picture: Tanya Waterworth
Readers in Umhlanga and Ballito phoned in initially thinking it was a massive storm over the city.
Garrith Jamieson of Rescue Care paramedics was one of those who responded to the fire near the Durban Harbour shortly after 9am.
"On arrival we found smoke billowing from the building. Multiple fire tenders from Fire Department were called to the scene in attempt to extinguish the blaze. The blaze has caused extensive damaged to the structure of the building and fire department are still fighting the blaze.
"There are wax panels inside the building which has made it more challenging for Fire Department as well as the strong gusting winds," he said. SAPS were also at the scene.
One person has been injured. He was stabilised on scene and transported to a nearby hospital with minor burns. No other casualties or fatalities have been reported at this stage.
It is still unclear how the blaze started by all the necessary services are on scene and will investigate once the blaze has been extinguished.
A command centre has been set up at the scene.
Ethekwini officials confirmed the contents of the factories included, wax, plastics and chemicals, but that nothing was toxic, although they were monitoring the situation and had contingency plans in place.
On social media people were encouraging friends to close windows and avoid inhaling the fumes where possible. There have also been reports of pupils coughing and complaining of tight chests at Durban Girls High School on the Berea.
The M4 south has been closed to traffic to allow fire trucks to get to and from the scene.