3 rescued as massive fire guts Bulawayo CBD property

Three people were rescued and rushed to hospital after a fire broke out in a building adjacent to Sai Mart at the intersection of Lobengula Street and 4th Avenue in Bulawayo on Tuesday afternoon.

The blaze sent thick smoke billowing into the air and prompted a rapid response from the City of Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Service, which deployed four fire engines to the scene.

Bulawayo chief fire officer Mhlangano Moyo confirmed the incident, saying firefighters arrived within minutes of receiving an emergency call, only to find the structure already engulfed in flames.

"We had a huge fire next door to Sai Mart Lobengula Street. It was really bad," he said.

Fire crews immediately launched rescue operations after confirming that three people were trapped inside the burning building. All three were successfully rescued and transported to hospital by ambulance for medical attention.

"Three persons who were trapped were rescued by the brigade crew and conveyed to hospital by the brigade ambulance," Moyo said.

Firefighters used four water jets to contain the blaze while teams equipped with breathing apparatus worked to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring buildings.

Preliminary assessments suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault linked to refrigerators inside the building, although investigations are ongoing.

Authorities are currently assessing the extent of the damage as well as the structural safety of the affected property.

The swift response by emergency services helped prevent further casualties in the busy central business district incident.