Again! Fire Ravages China Mall in Durban, Sending Shockwaves Through the City
A fire broke out and ravaged the China Mall in Durban on Friday morning, causing thick smoke to billow over the city centre.
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The China Mall Fire In Durban
The building is located on 31 West Street in the central business district. China Mall was already damaged by a fire in January 2022, and it was declared unsafe by the eThekwini Municipality.
Fire in Durban [Images: SA911/X]
According to the KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services spokesperson, Robert McKenzie, there were no injuries or fatalities. He said that the fire was contained by the firefighters and that the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
🔥China Mall on West Street. Central fire on scene.
*As Recieved*
Durban KZN pic.twitter.com/7NY0BPg7OY— 🔞SA911 (@JustdoitZee) September 15, 2023
Videos making rounds on social media show black fumes of smoke furiously coming from the inferno at dawn. The third floor glowed with yellow flames consuming the building.
Last year, another fire engulfed China Mall in an incident that left residents shell-shocked. It fell victim to looting and vandalism that took place in July 2021. Protesters looted the building and set it alight, resulting in millions of rands worth of damage.
Worrying Trend Of Fires In South Africa
The China Mall fire in Durban reflects a worrying trend of fires in South Africa, especially in the past few months. One of the most tragic fires occurred in Johannesburg on August 31, 2023. A fire tore through a five-storey building that turned into informal housing, killing at least 74 people and injuring more than 50 others.
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In June, over 10 shacks burnt down while two people perished beyond recognition in a Zandspruit fire in Johannesburg.