The South African Police Service have confirmed a case of arson is under investigation following a massive blaze at a scrapyard in Phoenix in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Residents took to social media to express their shock and concern at being woken up by the loud bangs and explosion-like sounds in the early parts of the morning.
IOL reported that more than 50 cars caught fire, as well as other property housed at the scrapyard in Canehaven Drive, in Phoenix north of Durban.
“Police are investigating a case of arson following an incident in which a property was allegedly set alight by unknown people on Thursday. The motive is unknown,” SAPS spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said.
Gareth Naidoo of KZN VIP Security said response teams were alerted to the fire and dispatched to the area, along with members from eThekwini Fire Department.
"Sadly the yard was well alight with more than 50 vehicles burning and other flammable items. Additional fire trucks were called in from Durban as the fire could be seen from other areas of Phoenix, along with the loud bangs from the exploding cars,“ Naidoo said.
He said no injuries were reported during the fire, which took about two hours to put out.
IOL News