Tunnel blaze under N12 bridge extinguished

Firefighters have extinguished a rubble fire in a tunnel beneath the N12 bridge in the city of Ekurhuleni. Plumes of smoke were seen emanating from the tunnel beneath the Boeing East road bridge in Bedfordview. Ekurhuleni Emergency Services spokesperson William Ntladi said they received the call at about 11:56am “On arrival, crews from three fire stations in the region, Bedfordview, Edenvale and Primrose, positively identified heavy dense smoke emission from the tunnel under the road bridge.

“Recycling materials were positively identified to be burning from the vertical tunnel next to the pillar post. The depth of the tunnel is unknown, and no casualties have been found thus far. There were heaps of rubble on each side of the bridge with blankets showing that the area is used as a sleeping place,” Ntladi said.

Ntladi said the area is plagued by poor visibility for motorists, especially those using the westbound N12 freeway. “Motorists are urged to be cautious when approaching the area.” Meanwhile,police are investigating a case of arson following a devastating fire that ripped through Riverlea Secondary School. The blaze broke out at the school last week, just a day before pupils and teachers were to return. This is the third fire at the same school.