Fire at Denel munitions site lights up the night-time sky
A fire broke out at the Rheinmetall Denel Munition warehouse near Somerset West in the Western Cape on Sunday night.
Residents reported a bright orange sky from the late-night blaze.
Mark Baatjies, chairperson of the Greater Macassar civic association, said there were no injuries.
“It was at about 11pm. We left this morning at about 3am and it was confirmed there are no injuries,” he told TimesLIVE.
Baatjies said the extent of the damage was not yet known.
Macassar ward councillor Rhoda Ann Bazier said: “At about 11pm we rushed to the plant because we heard an explosion had taken place. When we got there all emergency services were on site.”
END OF DAYS : DENEL HELDERBERG. CPT. WC. EXPLOSION AT ARMS MANUFACTURER CAPTURED BY A TRAFFIC CAMERA LAST NIGHT. NO FATALITIES ALLEGEDLY.@SAPoliceService @cci_network pic.twitter.com/aPlK5e0bez
— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) November 1, 2021
Eight workers were killed in a blast at the plant in September 2018. Investigators said the explosion was caused by a combination of human error and never-before-seen static electricity, reported TimesLIVE.
Saw it too...looked like airport / somerset West area? Sky was bright orange
— Nardus Le Roux (@NLeRouxZA) October 31, 2021
Reports of a "massive" explosion this evening at the Rheinmetall Denel Munition facility at Somerset West. pic.twitter.com/yFlIhIIg5p
— Quinton Mtyala (@mtyala) October 31, 2021
Still sitting in front of the Rheinmetall/Denel munitions site in Macassar @ 2h37
Posted by Rhoda Bazier on Sunday, October 31, 2021
TimesLIVE