In the early hours of Wednesday, Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) received a report of an underground cable fire along the M1 near the North Double-Decker section. The cables affected by the fire supply electricity to Braamfontein and the surrounding areas.
EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi stated that City Power colleagues were on-site to assist in opening the tunnels while the fire was being extinguished. The fire has primarily impacted Smit Street, a section of the highway. Motorists are advised to exercise caution when driving in the area.
EMS is working to extinguish the fire, focusing on the westward direction. As a safety measure, the area between Empire and Crown Interchange has been closed off. Motorists are urged to avoid this area until the fire is fully extinguished.
No injuries have been reported in relation to the incident. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. The Johannesburg Metro Police Department has closed off the highway in both directions due to the fire, with the hotspot being at the railway tracks beneath the M1.
To minimize disruption, motorists are advised to use alternative routes and anticipate delays. Traffic on the M1 North is being diverted at Carr Street and at the intersection of Jan Smuts Avenue and Empire Road in Parktown.
M1 highway JHB closed: underground fire near the railway line adjacent to Smit Street. pic.twitter.com/tYFtUyxT6Q
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) May 1, 2024
@CityofJoburgEMS Firefighters are currently attending to an underground fire incident reported along M1 north Double Decker highway at this stage no injuries reported and the cause of the fire incident is still a subject of investigations. @CityofJoburgZA @CoJPublicSafety (RM) pic.twitter.com/SmpoMMEpAp
— City of Joburg EMS (@CityofJoburgEMS) May 1, 2024
 and City Power are actively working to extinguish the fire.){kind=link}