Staff Reporter
Twelve trading units were destroyed and two more severely damaged in a fire that tore through the China Mall complex in Springfield, north of Durban, in the early hours of Saturday.
eThekwini Municipality said firefighters were called out at about 2.10am after its Emergency Services Directorate received a distress call reporting the blaze at the mall.
“Firefighters from eThekwini Fire Services Directorate worked tirelessly through the early hours of this morning to extinguish a massive fire that broke out at China Mall in Springfield, north of Durban,” the municipality said in a statement.
More than 25 firefighters were deployed to the scene, with support from teams from four northern fire stations.
The municipality said crews arrived to find “a fierce blaze already tearing through the complex”.
“Despite intense heat, heavy smoke, and rapidly collapsing structures, rescue teams fought relentlessly for several hours to contain the inferno,” it said.
“A total of 14 trading units were affected, with 12 completely destroyed and two severely damaged.”
No injuries or fatalities were reported, the municipality said, describing that as a relief made possible by the rapid response of emergency teams.
The operation was still active later on Saturday, with Fire and Emergency Services, Metro Police and the South African Police Service on site to monitor and secure the area and manage traffic and public safety.
The cause of the fire was not yet known.
“Investigators have begun assessments to determine the cause of the blaze, which remains unknown at this stage,” the municipality said.
China Mall has been closed until further notice because of major structural damage, pending safety inspections, forensic investigations and cleanup operations.
The municipality said it sympathised with those affected and was working with mall management to provide support where needed.
The public was urged to report emergencies by calling 031 361 0000.
INSIDE METROS
