The City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Services (EMS) has extinguished the underground fire in a tunnel under the double decker highway (M1).
City Power said in a statement yesterday, that vandalism or theft of infrastructure, might have caused the fire.
Fire crews spent the better half of Labour Day, combating the blaze which led to a thick cloud of dark smoke over Braamfontein and parts of Parktown North.
The M1 North and southbound was closed as a result yesterday, between Empire and the Crown Interchange. Bertha Peter’s-Scheppers, Spokesperson of the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), confirmed to Earthnews365, this morning, that the highway is now open.
City Power is expected to start assessing the extent of the damage caused.
There were no injuries or fatalities reported, Asa result of the fire.
Joburg EMS has pleaded with residents to report any suspected vandalism or theft of the City’s infrastructure,to prevent incidents similar to yesterday’s one.
Pictures: JRA & Johannesburg EMS