Three employees were hospitalised with injuries after a suspected gas explosion at a local fishmonger engulfed the kitchen area of the takeaway section on Monday afternoon (17 April).
Within minutes first responders, including paramedics, ambulance services, security officers and the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services, were on the scene at Fish4Africa in Gants Centre, Strand, and the premises was secured and injured employees were attended to.
When DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette arrived on the scene emergency personnel were conducting safety checks of the affected area, which was immediately evacuated and closed off to the public as crowds of curious onlookers had gathered. The incident occurred around noon during a second bout of load shedding scheduled for the day; it is believed an accident occurred involving a gas-powered oil fryer.
According to employee Nicolene Badenhorst, staff were busy in the takeaway kitchen using the brand-new oil fryer when, for some unknown reason, sparks flew followed by a big boom. “We suspect that when the appliance was switched on it triggered the explosion,” she said. “Everything in the immediate vicinity caught alight and screams were heard from the offices above.” Badenhorst instinctively grabbed a fire extinguisher to douse the flames.
She said three of her co-workers, including the 57-year-old manager, were injured in the incident, sustaining burn wounds to the face, arms and hands, and also smoke inhalation. At the time of going to print on Tuesday morning (18 April) the three were still recovering in hospital.
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City’s Fire and Rescue Services, confirmed the explosion, saying it would appear that the gas cylinder, adjacent to the chip fryer, was not securely tightened and that a gas leak had subsequently ignited.
“The Lord was clearly here with us. It could have been much worse, and we are just so grateful no-one was fatally injured. We pray for the full recovery of our beloved co-workers,” Badenhorst said.
She said in the immediate aftermath of the incident the business closed its doors so a clean-up could take place.
The takeaway kitchen reopened only today (Wednesday). Management had already instituted repairs as well as safety checks ahead of the reopening.
