Technicians work to restore electricity at Blue Waters Hotel
eThekwini technicians say it will take about 24-hours to restore electricity to the Blue Waters Hotel on the Durban beachfront.
The building is currently being powered with a generator.
Emergency services responded to a fire at the hotel this morning.
Also read: BREAKING: Fire at Blue Waters Hotel
The Durban Fire Department's Justin Bateman says while conducting a primary investigation, they found vapour had accumulated after oil spilt onto cooling fans.
Bateman says most of the damage is superficial to the structure. He says firefighters were able to cool the transformer and the structure, preventing the hotel from catching fire.
The electricity outage that affected areas around the hotel up to Old Fort Road was restored about an hour ago.
The fire was extinguished earlier this morning.
Meanwhile, residents living in buildings adjacent to the hotel have told Newswatch they heard a loud explosion before seeing thick black smoke billowing from the hotel
#Fire that broke out at #BlueWaters Hotel in Durban has been extinguished pic.twitter.com/PAKluOH6zv
— Khatija Nxedlana (@its_KhaTija) May 11, 2016
Durban Fire Department Acting Division Commander Justin Bateman explains how the transformer blew #BlueWatersHotel pic.twitter.com/t6YFeKKDNf
— Khatija Nxedlana (@its_KhaTija) May 11, 2016
Hotel guest Khetha Mzimela shares his experience... #BlueWatersHotel pic.twitter.com/P8oCpYCkK6
— Khatija Nxedlana (@its_KhaTija) May 11, 2016
Through the walkway where the transformer blew #BlueWatersHotel #DurbanFire pic.twitter.com/qfkz33b3AQ
— Khatija Nxedlana (@its_KhaTija) May 11, 2016