Evacuations ordered near fire-ravaged Durban mall
Businesses near Durban's fire-ravaged China Emporium have been evacuated.
The mall building caught alight exactly a week ago.
Thirteen people rescued from the premises had to be treated for various injuries.
Firefighters spent days dealing with flare-ups.
READ: Thirteen people rescued from Durban CBD blaze
eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Lindiwe Khuzwayo says the city will continue to maintain a presence at the building as a safety precaution.
"The China Mall Emporium building has been condemned following an assessment by structural engineers. We continue to close some roads in the vicinity of the building. We urge the public to avoid that area if at all possible."
Regional commander at eThekwini's Fire Service Zibuse Ngcece says the building will be demolished, but it's not clear when.
"There is a process involved. The management of the building has to submit an application to one of our departments, which is a building inspector, and this particular department will have to certify that all the requirements have been met and then they can give the go-ahead to demolish.
READ: Road closures remain in Durban CBD due to mall fire
"Even to demolish is a process because there are so many adjacent buildings that definitely are going to be affected. So they need to make sure how they are going to make sure those buildings are protected when they demolish the mall."
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