Africa-Press – Eswatini. A shopping complex in Nhlangano was burnt down by unknown people yesterday morning , causing damages worth over E4 million.
The figure, according to some businesses in the complex, might be higher as investigations and assessments continue.
Three compartments consisting of a store room, liquor store and a car spares shop were gutted down by the fire.
One of the affected businesses houses Jumbo Liquor Wholesalers, Wozani Supermarket and other businesses, which include car parts shop.
Information gathered was that the arsonist arrived at the complex, at around 3am and gained entry through the storage of a furniture shop and set the place alight before proceeding to the nearest businesses.
It was alleged that even CCTV cameras were not spared from the fire, which razed the whole place down.
The fire department is said to have been called and they tried all they could to save the place. It is alleged that they spent hours trying to put out the fire. One thing which made things worse was that the fire kept leaping from one business premises to another due to the proximity of the businesses.
This is not the first time the place has been set alight, as it also suffered the same fate during the unrest which hit the country in 2021. It is said the place, which was set alight had just recovered from that incident. One of the store managers housed in the complex Boy Magagula confirmed the incident.
He said they had really suffered a double blow, as the damage suffered amounted to over E4 million. Magagula said the figure might be higher than that as assessments were still being done. He said they were hoping to apprehend the perpetrators, as they were still assessing some of the hard drives for the CCTV cameras.
Some of the heavily-affected businesses include a furniture shop and a liquor outlet known as Jumbo Liquor Wholesalers.
National Fire and Emergency Department Public Relations Officer, Mandla Dlamini, said three compartments consisting of a storeroom, liquor store and a car spares shop were gutted down.
Dlamini said the fire department was contacted by the police at around 3am and they managed to control the flames at around 5am.
“A point to note is that the fire managed to spread from one area to another due to improper partitioned walls using bricks, especially on the roof. Also due to late notification of the incident, the fire caused severe damage on the structure with estimated costs of millions of Emalangeni,” Dlamini stated.
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