Soweto substation fire extinguished but residents concerned about power supply
On Wednesday morning, Johannesburg EMS attended to a fire incident at an Eskom substation in Zola, and after securing the area, officials managed to contain the blaze, eventually extinguishing it
Johannesburg EMS workers attend to a fire that broke out at a substation in Zola, Soweto, on 12 June 2023. Picture: Supplied/Johannesburg EMS
JOHANNESBURG - Following a three-hour battle, Johannesburg firefighters have managed to extinguish a fire that broke out at a substation in Soweto
On Wednesday morning, Emergency Management Services (EMS) attended to a fire incident at a local Eskom substation in Zola, and after securing the area, officials managed to contain the blaze, eventually extinguishing it
According to preliminary investigations, the fire broke out early in the morning, leaving homes and businesses in the vicinity without power.
Now that the fire has been extinguished, residents are now worried about whether they will have power.
The issue of electricity supply has been a constant issue for residents of Soweto. The loss of this power station is just an added concern for many people living there.
Wednesday’s blaze drew a large crowd, who gathered to witness as the Eskom-owned substation became engulfed.
Although no injuries or fatalities were reported, some critical services like the city’s financial customer service centres are now not operational, including Chiawelo, Dobsonville, Jabavu and Moroka.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway.