A fire that broke out on Saturday afternoon at Cape Town Station in the CBD, has caused extensive damage. According to reports, 11 trains were destroyed and the station suffered extensive damage.
The cause of the fire is still unknown and no injuries have been reported. Platforms 15 and 16 at the station were affected.
Cape Town Fire and Rescue Chief, Theo Layne, said four engines and two water tankers were on scene to contain the fire. Layne told the Citizen, “We are currently dealing with a train fire at Cape Town train station where they have numerous carriages that are alight. Four fire engines, two water tankers are on the scene. No injuries have been reported as yet. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this stage.”
In the past few months, three trains were set alight while en route to their destinations. One person also died as a result. Police have been investigating cases of arson and damage to property, but no arrests have been forthcoming.
Metrorail amounted the costs of the train fires to R19-million. The estimate for the damage in today’s fire are still to be assessed and calculated.
At this point, it is unknown how the fires will affect commuters.
That’s a lot of smoke… #CapeTown #fire #train #station #firecapetown #capetownfire || Video by @kentreloar #NEWS pic.twitter.com/fAaqje7aFD
— Ken Treloar (@kentreloar) July 21, 2018
11 #Metrorail train carriages have gone up in smoke at #CapeTown train station. Damage reported to platforms 15 & 16. The rate at which Metrorail’s trains are catching fire is very worrying. Luckily no one was hurt here. pic.twitter.com/jZS95g21mX
— Rauby (@GraemeRauby) July 21, 2018
Situation at Cape Town station. 5th #TrainFire in past two months. In June alone #Metrorail lost 11 train carriages in fire incidents. pic.twitter.com/Yh5jH7lwfx
— Earl September ?? (@earlseptember) July 21, 2018
#Trainfire Officials are currently at Cape Town train station, platform 15 and 16 extinguishing a fire while commuters are being directed out of the station. pic.twitter.com/0SudWlfgKi
— Kaylynn Palm (@kaylynnpalm) July 21, 2018
Another day, another train on fire..? #trainfire #capetown pic.twitter.com/QUmTkCIsdp
— CRYPTO_AFRICA (@CRYPTO_AFRICA) July 21, 2018
@MetrorailCT Train on fire at Cape Town station on Saturday July 21. pic.twitter.com/ys91VzLrLQ
— Lucky Fortune (@FortuneWide) July 21, 2018
Pictures: Twitter