Two people have died after an explosion and fire at a factory in Jacobs. Firefighters were called to the company, Chemical Technologies, on Brooklyn Road just after midnight.
They have told Newswatch that when they arrived on scene the building was engulfed in flames and the fire had already spread to the top of the factory.
Fire officials spent about three hours trying to put out the blaze using foam. This is a safer method due to the various chemicals in the building.
Justin Bateman, who is with eThekwini's Fire Department, says it's not known whether the two workers died as a result of the explosion or from inhaling chemicals and smoke.
"We knew that there were occupants in the building and searches were done as we managed to proceed into the building," he said.
"Unfortunately, due to the nature of the incident, due to the original explosion, the occupants possibly sustained their fatal injuries at that time. The building was open, if they'd had the capability to escape they would have."
Bateman says the cause of the fire is being investigated. Meanwhile, Water Affairs and Pollution Control officials are busy assessing the air quality at the scene.
- East Coast Radio
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