An explosion at the Denel Munitions facility in Somerset West has rattled the surrounding area this morning, triggering a swift emergency response, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Fire crews were alerted just after 9:30am to a building engulfed in flames at the site, leading to immediate evacuations and a significant fire response from local emergency services.
According to reports from Strand Patrol Buurtwag / NHW Helderberg, a powerful blast that could be felt beyond the facility’s boundaries confirmed the explosion originated from within Denel.
Firefighters from Macassar and Khayelitsha quickly arrived to tackle the blaze, which officials confirmed was brought under control by around 10:30am.
Remarkably, all staff members were safely evacuated from the premises, and, as of now, no injuries have been reported.
Ambulances were seen stationed at the facility’s front gate amid the chaos, although no official information has been released regarding their presence.
Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RF) Proprietary Limited provided a statement regarding the incident, affirming that, ‘On Tuesday, at approximately 9:50 am, a fire incident occurred at the Rheinmetall Denel Munition RF (Pty) Ltd (‘RDM’) facility in Somerset West. No injuries were reported, highlighting the effectiveness of the safety measures in place,’
The company further noted that local emergency services and their own teams were dispatched promptly to manage the initial response.
In the wake of the explosion, RDM pledged full cooperation with authorities during the investigation into the incident’s cause, indicating their commitment to maintaining a secure operational environment.
Investigations will commence once officials deem the area safe for assessment.
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