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Firefighters have arrived at Cape Town train station to battle yet another train-related blaze after thick, black smoke permeated the air above the station on Tuesday.
The City of Cape Town's Fire and Rescue Service responded to the train fire at approximately 12:20, the City said in a statement.
According to the rescue service, "two trains with three carriages each on platform 17 and 18 respectively were alight", with reports of the offices above the station deck also being affected.
Four fire engines, a water tanker and a rescue vehicle with 24 firefighters responded to the blaze and investigators are currently on the scene trying to determine the cause.
Details were unclear at first, based on visual evidence and posts trickling in on social media, but it has been confirmed that the smoke was from at least one train set that has been set on fire at the busy Cape Town depot.
Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) board chair Khanyisile Kweyama earlier reportedly told members of Parliament that platforms 16 and 17 at Cape Town station were on fire.
Kweyama has also reportedly said that a suspect has been caught, based on information trickling through to her.
@BISouthAfrica @News24 CT train station fire putting out flames. pic.twitter.com/YrGPDnNVFB
— Jay Caboz (@JayCaboz) October 9, 2018
@BISouthAfrica @News24 CT train station putting the fire out. Trains resuming on other platform. pic.twitter.com/JWFDbzVSuq
— Jay Caboz (@JayCaboz) October 9, 2018
@BISouthAfrica @News24 CT train station fire firefighters on scene pic.twitter.com/0h2cWLy19x
— Jay Caboz (@JayCaboz) October 9, 2018
@BISouthAfrica @News24 CT train station fire pic.twitter.com/3DrIAFuPcb
— Jay Caboz (@JayCaboz) October 9, 2018
@BISouthAfrica @News24 CT train station fire pic.twitter.com/WWMHcyEuLh
— Jay Caboz (@JayCaboz) October 9, 2018
@BISouthAfrica @News24 CT train station fire pic.twitter.com/3yqtJZGApb
— Jay Caboz (@JayCaboz) October 9, 2018
@News24 @BISouthAfrica Cape town station. pic.twitter.com/CN4rUQloDd
— Jay Caboz (@JayCaboz) October 9, 2018
@News24 @BISouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/jrRRGZZpRM
— Jay Caboz (@JayCaboz) October 9, 2018
Thick smoke, tenant says he can't close to store @TeamNews24 @News24 pic.twitter.com/FfbAqe1KyL
— Duncan Alfreds (@Duncan025) October 9, 2018
Kweyama says that the arson attacks are a result of sabotage. Disgruntled ex-managers may be behind the attacks.
— Christina Pitt (@ChristinaPitt94) October 9, 2018
This comes after she confirmed another arson attack at CT train station today.#Prasa@TeamNews24
Fire on platform 13 @News24 @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/t5Hd3qgvn5
— Duncan Alfreds (@Duncan025) October 9, 2018
Police on the platform following fire @News24 @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/HlnmPxnCrU
— Duncan Alfreds (@Duncan025) October 9, 2018
Magadzi interrupts #Prasa CEO Sibusiso Sithole to inform Minister of Transport Blade Nzimande that CT train station is burning.@TeamNews24
— Christina Pitt (@ChristinaPitt94) October 9, 2018
Geez @allcapetown @CapeTown so many trains on fire?! pic.twitter.com/vUmSpJHDkm
— Michelle Clarke (@MichClarke) October 9, 2018
Trains are on fire again pic.twitter.com/s4wnt5cFFY
— Simon (@simon_orgill) October 9, 2018
Another sad day, trains set on fire at Cape Town Central Station! :( @CityofCT @brettherron there is definitely some other forces at work here! @prasa pic.twitter.com/OHQdiRggPj
— Mark Sconners (@SconnersCT) October 9, 2018
Station fire @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/gZ5abT3ZmP
— Duncan Alfreds (@Duncan025) October 9, 2018
Cape Town Station fire @News24 @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/riORRGxI0f
— Duncan Alfreds (@Duncan025) October 9, 2018
Thick smoke on Cape Town station @news24 @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/AcUkDs0w3x
— Duncan Alfreds (@Duncan025) October 9, 2018
Smoke blankets Cape Town Station @TeamNews24 @news24 pic.twitter.com/KZVR40LKkv
— Duncan Alfreds (@Duncan025) October 9, 2018
