A man was killed on Saturday morning when he became trapped in a burning furniture-upholstery factory in Durban.
Ashwin Mohanlall (38) apparently tried to flee from the blaze, which took firefighters more than five hours to bring under control. Stairwells were being used as storage spaces, making access for firefighters extremely difficult.
Initial reports indicated that the rear gate by which Mohanlall tried to exit the building was locked.
Officials on scene said the blaze started on the ground floor and rapidly spread through the four-storey building. Huge plumes of dark grey smoke could be seen over the city for kilometres.
The owner of Sofafurm Upholstery, Yasi Nathoo, did not want to talk to the media. He said: ”I cannot think now.”
His business occupied the ground floor of the building in Durban’s Jacobs industrial area.
Randhir Ramsander, owner of Zimele Trading, which manufactures green shopping bags on the top three floors, said: ”There is R5-million of mine burning there now.”
Mohanlall is survived by his wife and two children aged four and nine. He worked as a machinist at Sofafurm for six years. His distraught mother had to be escorted away from the scene.
The cause of the fire is not yet known. Durban South police spokesperson Superintendent Daniela Veldhuizen said an inquest into Mohanlall’s death will be opened. — Sapa