Chitungwiza residents left in indefinite darkness ...

Chitungwiza residents left in indefinite darkness as fire destroys a transformer

Audrey Galawu

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Some parts of Chitungwiza will be going without electricity for an indefinite period after a fire destroyed a transformer in Zengeza 1 this Sunday.

“There was an oil leak at the transformer. Then a fire broke out and the whole thing was quickly engulfed in flames,” an eye witness told Zim Now.

Houses in the neighbourhood immediately lost power but Zim Now could not determine the extent of the affected area.

A fire truck arrived within 20 minutes of the fire breaking out, and immediately contained the fire, the eye witness said.

“People had already rushed to help the people of that house next to the transformer move their belongings out because it looked like the fire would spread to it.

“The fire truck arrived quickly and the fire fighters managed to contain and extinguish the fire before it could damage the house.

“But they could not save the transformer which was already destroyed,” said the witness.

Fire fighters at the scene said they are not authorized to talk to the media. They also said that official spokespeople would only be able to update the public on cause, extent of damage and probable time for restoration after full investigations had been carried out.

The incident was reported at St Mary's Police station.