City Power suspects fire on M1 highway in Joburg CBD caused by vandals
The blaze under the M1 double-decker section has been raging since the early hours of Wednesday morning.
An underground fire raging along the M1 Highway in the Johannesburg CBD on 1 May 2024. Picture: X/CityofJoburgEMS
JOHANNESBURG - City Power said it suspected that the fire on the M1 highway in Johannesburg may have been sparked by vandals.
The blaze under the M1 double-decker section has been raging since the early hours of Wednesday morning.
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The fire brigade is currently on site, working to extinguish the fire and clear the smoke.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said it’s still too soon to determine the extent of the damage to infrastructure.
“We can only do that once we have been given the go-ahead by emergency services to put out the fire.”
While motorists have been warned to steer clear of the area between Empire Road and the Crown Interchange, Mangena said some residents have also been affected.
“Currently, the smoke is billowing hard and thick, and we are not sure how much work still needs to be done to put [the fire] out. City Power assures the public that the fire is under control and customers in Braamfontein, the CBD, Parktown, parts of Auckland Park, and Newtown that its teams are committed to conducting repairs to ensure that supply is restored.”