Bangladeshi shopkeepers trapped inside burning shop

Bangladeshi shopkeepers had their lives flash before their eyes when their supermarket caught alight in Albertskroon (Northcliff) Randburg in the wee hours of this morning, Friday, 5 May.

BANGLADESHI OWNED SUPERMARKET RAZE BY BLAZE

Shortly after midnight following the restoration of electricity from loadshedding, the supermarket went up in flames trapping its shopkeepers inside.
A gradual thickening smoke started forcing out of the air passages and windows of the store. This did not last long as the smoke turned into a huge fire which further covered the road and produced toxic fumes.

HOW THE FIRE WAS SPOTTED BY A PASSERBY

A vehicle driving by saw this happening and began to press down the hooter of the car with the hope to awaken the residents. The hooter, however, and calling of the emergency services were in vain. The driver decided to drive up the street and stopped a security vehicle patrolling the streets to call for backup as there was suspicion that the shopkeepers were trapped inside.

The flashing white lights and the hooter pushed the need for help as some neighbours eventually woke up and walked out in gowns to see what was going on.
As the fire intensified, colleagues or associates of the trapped shopkeepers came rushing to assist the SCP officers to break the tight door open.

“This could have had a sad ending if everyone waited for the Fire Department or police to free the entrapped shopkeepers.”

First respondent

ALSO READ: A two-year-old boy dies in a shack fire in Gqeberha

SHOPKEEPERS WARNED AGAINST SLEEPING INSIDE THE SHOPS

“Lives were saved by the associates of these shopkeepers who were sleeping inside the shop, the security officers and some community members who added a few kicks to finally break the door open. Although not much was saved from the supermarket, lives were saved,” said the first respondent.

While the scene was hot and happening, with police taking down statements, the Bangladeshi shopkeepers were warned from turning the supermarket into a bedroom after trading hours.

ALSO READ: Joburg’s World Trade Centre families win an eviction reprieve, only to lose their possessions in a fire