Shoppers at the V&A Waterfront had to be evacuated this afternoon after a fire broke out in the parking lot of the popular shopping centre.
Pictures circulating on social media show smoke billowing from the centre. Management tweeted that there was a fire in the basement parking and shoppers were evacuated. No one was injured in the incident.
Workers crowded the outside area waiting to hear when it would be safe to go back in for their belongings.
“The City’s Fire and Rescue Services responded to the V&A Waterfront at about 6.03pm this evening, the fire was in the basement of the Pick n Pay, it was an electrical transformer that was alight. The fire is contained currently and two fire engines and one rescue vehicle are still on scene. The cause of the fire has not been determined,” said Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Theo Layne.
Emergency services, including ambulances and fire engines surrounded the building, to ensure the fire did not spread. At this stage the damage is unknown.
V&A Waterfront fire pic.twitter.com/dotsKmFMGU
— Siyamthanda (@Ms_Menisi) November 14, 2018
Waterfront on Fire in Capetown major evacuation taking place!!!!!@SABCNewsOnline @eNCA pic.twitter.com/bgPqcs4w1R
— Eazy-Kay Africa (@africa_eazykay) November 14, 2018
Please note that there was a fire in the basement parking at Vic Warf and shoppers have been evacuated. No injuries. Fire officials are on the scene.
— V&A Waterfront (@VandAWaterfront) November 14, 2018
#V&Afire Firefighters and paramedics are on scene where a fire broke out at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. @kaylynnpalm pic.twitter.com/I7z7q3B74i
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 14, 2018
Picture: Twitter