THE eThekwini Municipality has moved to dispel fears of a gas explosion in the Durban CBD after a video circulating on social media sparked widespread concern.

According to the City, the incident captured at the corner of Dorothy Nyembe and Anton Lembede streets on Sunday was not caused by a gas leak or any gas-related fault, but rather by electrical cable arcing.

Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the public should be assured that the situation was minor and swiftly contained.

“What people saw in the video was an electrical discharge caused by damaged conductors. It was a spark and flare resulting from cable arcing, not a gas explosion. There is no ageing infrastructure failure behind this incident,” said Sisilana.

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She confirmed that no injuries, fatalities, or power disruptions occurred.

“Our Energy Management team was immediately dispatched to the site and quickly made the area safe. At no point was the public at risk,” Sisilana added.

The municipality has urged residents to rely on verified information from official City platforms rather than circulating unconfirmed reports that may cause unnecessary alarm.

For updates or emergencies, the public is encouraged to contact 031 361 0000 or follow the municipality’s official communication channels.

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