Staff member injured in Debe mall fire

STAFF and customers at South Haven Mall, Debe, got quite a scare when fire broke out around 9.45 am on August 20.

A member of staff, whose identity was not revealed, was injured. Neither the nature nor seriousness of the injury is known as yet.

Staff and customers were evacuated from the mall as a precautionary measure.

South Haven is owned by Anand Ramnarine, who also manages a chain of Anand Low Price Supermarkets and gyms.

Considered the “Gulf City of Debe,” it has numerous tenants, and houses, among other businesses, a supermarket, a pharmacy, gym and food outlets.

The businesses were reopened before noon.

Fire tenders from Mon Repos responded and put out the blaze. A T&TEC crew was also on hand to disconnect electrical lines

A close-up of the damaged exterior of South Haven Mall, Debe after a fire broke out on August 20. – Photo by Venessa Mohammed

The cause of the fire is unknown, but it is believed it may have started in a part of the building which is still under construction.

The mall owner confirmed the fire and issued a brief statement saying the fire had caused “serious damage.”

The statement added: “One of our dedicated workers was injured in the incident, and all stores were evacuated as a precaution.

“We are currently co-operating with authorities and awaiting the results of a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire. We will keep our community informed as we learn more.

“We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the fire service for their swift and professional response, which undoubtedly prevented the situation from becoming worse.

“Thank you for your understanding and support as we work through this challenging time.”

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