Feb 16, 2010 5:25 PM | By NIVASHNI NAIR
The power supply to traffic lights, offices, and homes in the Pietermaritzburg city centre has not yet been restored after two transformers exploded.
A Pietermaritzburg fire division officer Lincoln Pennells said a mini sub, also known as a transformer, exploded at the corner of Prince Alfred and Commercial streets at 3:30pm.
“Shortly afterwards less than 500m down the road the second transformer exploded. The first transformer was really burning and was totally destroyed whereas the second explosion burned only a few wires of the transformer,” he said.
Pennells said the power supply in a radius of about 3km around the transformers was disrupted and electricians are working on restoring it.
“It’s hard to say when the power will be back on”.
ER24 spokesman Derrick Banks was working on his laptop in his office when he heard a loud bang.
“It happened just outside the ER24 offices in the city centre. We all ran outside where a cloud of smoke had developed. We rushed to our vehicles and closed off the roads. We then heard another bang and I assume that was the second explosion. Luckily no one was injured,” he said.
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