WATCH: Empangeni Rail building catches fire, no injuries reported

A fire broke out at eight apartments above Zululand Canvas, in Knutzen Road, Empangeni, at around 11am on Sunday morning.

Two residents were inside the building at the time. One reportedly looked up to see the apartment in flames and was unable to see clearly due to the thick smoke.

The fire was quickly extinguished by the Empangeni Fire Department, with help from Richards Bay Fire Department.

Mounties EMS treated the two patients, one for minor first degree burns and both for smoke inhalation.

No fatalities or other injuries were reported, while the road was partially closed during the incident.

In a video taken during the blaze, thick smoke can be seen bellowing out the top of the building. The intensity of the fire reportedly caused a crack in the side of the building.

By Monday, the smell of the smoke still lingered outside the building.

“It has affected us. We haven’t had electricity all day,” said the receptionist at Zululand Canvas.

“The water from extinguishing the fire is also affecting us, it has been dripping all day and we’ve had to put cardboard on the floor,” she said, although the business remained operational.

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