Two siblings dead after cellphone explosion causes house fire

Siblings

Durban — Two siblings in Phoenix, north of Durban, died after a cellphone allegedly exploded while it was charging on the couch in the house.

Private Security company KZN VIP confirmed the incident via Facebook when a fire broke out in a residential home in Phoenix after the cellphone exploded and ignited a fire on the sofa and spread throughout the house.

KZN VIP spokesperson Gareth Naidoo said emergency services were dispatched and encountered a structural fire. There were efforts to evacuate the premises but were hampered by the smoke in the building.

Naidoo said the siblings were aged between 30 and 35 and were trapped in their respective rooms, with the female stuck in a room while the male was stuck in the bathroom.

“In an attempt to escape the smoke and flames, KZNVIP and community Members broke the windows, but efforts to extricate the victims were unsuccessful due to
the intensity of the flames and accumulated smoke,” he said.

Firefighters swept the property, and the woman was pulled from the building. and despite numerous CPR attempts, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering third-degree burns. The male also received CPR, but he succumbed to his injuries.
“Community members, along with the response officers from KZN VIP, assisted in efforts to control the fire. The use of a hosepipe and wet sand was attempted to limit the spread of the fire, and ladders were deployed in an attempt to enter the building, but due to the extreme danger posed by the fire, entry was not possible without risking further loss of life,” he added.
Authorities are now investigating the cause of the explosion and subsequent fire.

According to IOL, Community leader and IFP councillor Jonathan Annipen said he was amazed by the support shown to the family and mother of the siblings.

“It is with sadness and deep regret that we learned of the tragic passing of two young and promising souls who perished in a fire that gutted their home this morning. I express my heartfelt condolences to the mother of the deceased, their extended family and the community,” Annipen said.

He had visited the family following the incident and was proud to see the community gather to support the family during the difficult time.

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Picture: Facebook/KZN VIP Protection Services

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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