Authorities have determined that the substantial fire that closed the M1 highway and affected power supplies in Johannesburg was the result of deliberate criminal actions involving cable theft.
M1 highway fire was caused by criminal activity
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The fire, which engulfed the hollow inner core of a bridge over Carr Street in Fordsburg, was traced back to an act of vandalism by cable thieves.
The culprits reportedly targeted high-voltage cables running inside the bridge’s side deck cavity, leading to a significant blaze that nearly compromised the structural integrity of the road.
The incident came to light following a confrontation between the suspected thieves and City of Johannesburg security guards, which escalated into a shootout.
This act of vandalism not only caused immediate danger to public safety with the risk of the bridge collapsing but also led to extensive disruptions in traffic flow across the central highway artery.
The fire was so intense that it prompted a complete shutdown of the route, while emergency teams, including the Joburg Emergency Management Services (EMS), worked tirelessly to control and eventually extinguish the fire.
Authorities estimated that the fire would be fully extinguished by midnight on the day of the incident.
Latest updates on power restoration efforts
In the wake of the fire, parts of Johannesburg’s inner city experienced power outages, with restoration efforts expected to extend into the next week.
Isaac Mangena, a spokesperson for City Power, explained that the damage to the utility’s underground cables was extensive.
The fire not only disrupted the physical infrastructure but also posed significant challenges to the rapid restoration of electricity.
Technicians were deployed promptly to assess and initiate repairs on the damaged sections of the network. However, the complexity of the damage meant that immediate repairs were not feasible.
Mangena stated:
“But we don’t foresee us doing most of the work today, but we will push. The estimated time of restoration is not even going to be tomorrow. We apologize to residents for this.”
City Power has been working closely with municipal and safety officials to coordinate repair efforts and ensure that power is restored as swiftly and safely as possible to the affected areas.
