Shield chemical factory, in Apex, Benoni, went up in flames on Thursday and motorists have been warned to avoid the area.
Watch: Shield chemical factory in Apex on fire
Details around the incident unfolding at the industrial park in Apex are still sketchy. Videos of the chemicals factory engulfed in a raging inferno surfaced on social media with no further context.
At this time, it is not known if any of the company’s workers were injured in the incident. At the time this article was published, the skies in Apex were covered in thick plumes of black smoke. It’s believed fire and rescue officials are actively trying to douse the inferno before it affects other businesses in the area.
Here are some of the videos of the fire:
FIRE : SHIELD CHEMICALS. APEX. BENONI. GP. CHEMICAL. FIRE. AVOID AREA!!!@SAPoliceService @GTP_Traffstats @TrafficRTMC @SANRAL_za @JoburgMPD @TMPDSafety @cci_network pic.twitter.com/iwwO8kn1Lu
— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) October 21, 2021
Motorists please avoid APEX, Benoni, so as to minimize traffic to allow emergency services to go through. There is a massive fire at the Shield chemicals factory on London Road. pic.twitter.com/B3CWOQKWVz
— SA Trucker (@rsa_trucker) October 21, 2021
APEX FIRE 🔥: Hi All, there is a fire in Apex, Shield Chemicals. Fire department has asked that Apex be evacuated up to radius of 3 km pic.twitter.com/2os5LbQY46
— East Rand Traffic (@PeeMoTraffic) October 21, 2021
Motorists and the public, in general, are advised to avoid London Road in Apex.
This is a developing story and more updates will be made once more information trickles in.