Durban – A devastating fire in Phoenix, north of Durban, has claimed the lives of two siblings after a cellphone allegedly exploded in their home on Sunday. The incident occurred in a house in Charclay, leaving the community in mourning.
According to private security company KZN VIP, the fire is believed to have started when a cellphone "exploded," igniting a sofa. The flames quickly spread throughout the interior of the house, creating a perilous situation for the occupants.
"A devastating fire broke out in a residential home after a cellphone reportedly exploded, igniting a sofa which quickly spread throughout the interior. On arrival, emergency services encountered a structural fire," said KZN VIP spokesperson Gareth Naidoo.
Tragically, two siblings, believed to be between the ages of 30 and 35, were trapped inside the house. Naidoo explained that the woman was in her bedroom, while the man was in the bathroom when the fire broke out.
"Efforts to evacuate the premises were hampered as thick smoke filled the building. It is believed two siblings, aged between 30 and 35, were trapped in different rooms," Naidoo stated.
Responding to the emergency, KZN VIP and community members desperately tried to rescue the trapped siblings. "In an attempt to escape the smoke and flames, KZN VIP and community members broke the windows, but efforts to extricate the victims were unsuccessful due to the intensity of the flames and accumulated smoke," said Naidoo.
Firefighters arrived on the scene and conducted a thorough search of the property. "Firefighters conducted a thorough sweep of the property, and the first victim, a female, was pulled from the building. However, despite immediate CPR attempts by KZN VIP medics, the victim was pronounced dead, having suffered third-degree burns," Naidoo confirmed.
The second victim was also removed from the house and received immediate CPR. However, despite these efforts, he also succumbed to his injuries.
Community members and KZN VIP response officers worked together to try and control the blaze. "Community members, together with response officers from KZN VIP, assisted in efforts to control the fire. A hosepipe and wet sand were used to limit the spread of the fire and ladders were deployed to attempt to enter the building. However, due to the extreme danger posed by the fire, entry was not possible without risking further loss of life," Naidoo explained.
The authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion and the subsequent fire.
