Durban South residents left shaken following refinery explosion

It happened this morning at the Engen refinery on the Bluff.

Paramedics have treated seven people for smoke inhalation following the massive fire at the facility on Tara Road.

Irene Fynn from Treasure Beach lives close to the refinery. She says they she felt their house shaking. 

"The roof literally left the house and landed back on the house again. It was gushing with smoking and high flames, it is absolutely ridiculous!" 

"It's a sight you only see in movies. It is so fearful, we are so traumatised, I have to daughters they are absolutely traumatised. The smoke was billowing in the sky it was absolutely thick." 

READ:  At least 7 people treated at Durban oil refinery explosion

Umlazi resident,  Cindy Molefe says she started feeling sick. "I had a terrible headache, and I was vomiting. I can't open the windows in the house because the smell is coming in. I can't close it again because it's already inside the house and we don't know what to do. 

Dhevan Govindsamy from PT Alarms was among the emergency services personnel who responded to the scene. "The scene was tense, residents were hysterical for members of families who are working at the refinery. We stood by with them trying to calm them down." 

Another resident who lives just doors away from the refinery says she was driving when she heard the bang. 

"As soon as I got up Quality Street, the explosion was loud and everything shook. Other motorists even stopped on the road. I turned around immediately to come home only to find my husband who said the bang was felt in our home because we live two houses away." 

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