A student and three security guards were injured when part of a Doornfontein building in Joburg collapsed after a transformer in one of the rooms exploded. The incident happened on Monday morning and Sowetan understands that most of the residents of the building are students. Emergency services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said they received a call saying a transformer was on fire.
On arrival, emergency personnel discovered that a substation had exploded. in that process the wall collapsed and around the vicinity there were about four people who were in the area who got injured,” he said. The transformer was housed in a small utility storage room and the explosion resulted in the collapse of a room and adjoining boundary wall.
“We are told one was a student because the building is actually a student residential area, and three others were security officials who were around the building.” Mulaudzi said emergency services were not certain whether anyone was trapped under the rubble and would only leave the scene once the debris had been cleared. Emergency personnel barricaded the area, while others were seen digging through the rubble in search of anyone who might be trapped. Some residents gathered outside as emergency workers continued with their operations.
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One resident of the Vuja De building said she was woken up by an explosion just before 6am. “I ran out to check what was happening because I thought it was a tremor. They happen quite often this side,” she said, adding that this was when she saw flames on the other side of the building.
The woman was unable to continue speaking, saying she was overwhelmed by what had happened. Another resident said she woke up at about 4am to prepare for work and at the time there was no electricity.
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