Residents and visitors were left rattled on Sunday evening after a loud explosion rocked the area near the Elangeni Hotel, when a substation caught alight at around 6:10pm.
The fire caused widespread panic across North Beach and disrupted essential services, including electricity and water supply to hundreds of homes and businesses in both North and South Beach, as well as Lower West Street. High-rise buildings were also left without water, as most rely on electrically powered water pumps.
Emergency services responded to the scene, with the Fire Department arriving at 6:47pm to extinguish the flames. Fortunately, no injuries or property damage were reported.
Ward 26 councillor Sharmaine Sewshanker has called for urgent preventative measures. “A substation fire can be catastrophic, causing widespread disruptions and posing significant risks to people and property. Thankfully, no extensive damage or incidents of injury were reported,” she said.
Sewshanker has urged the eThekwini Municipality to take proactive steps to ensure the safety of critical infrastructure. “A thorough investigation into the cause of the fire is essential to prevent future incidents. Regular inspection and maintenance of electrical equipment can help prevent substation fires,” she said. “I am calling on eThekwini Municipality officials to conduct regular checks on all existing substations.”
Power was gradually restored later in the evening, but concerns remain about the reliability of the city’s ageing electrical infrastructure. Authorities have confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
