Inferno reduces wholesaler to a pile of rubble

A major fire decimated the Swakopmund Metro Cash & Carry as well as the Metro Liquor branches early this morning, causing damages in the tens of millions of dollars. Significant damage was also reported at the business Klimas Glass located next door.
No injuries were reported.
“It was a massive fire,” said Swakopmund fire chief Adri Goosen. Fire fighters are still on scene as small fires continue to pop up under rubble inside the wholesaler.
According to Goosen he received the initial call about the blaze at 04:01 this morning. Shortly thereafter the fire brigade arrived on the scene, but the fire was already out of control. The entire shop was engulfed in flames reaching 20 metres into the sky.
Swakopmund residents reported witnessing the red illuminated sky from various parts in town. By sunrise the thick black cloud of smoke was still clearly visible.
“We had just bought a lot of stock especially for the Easter weekend. It is very sad,” said Gieljam Visser, branch manager of Metro. He was not able to say what the exact value of the inventory was, but estimates that the stock might be worth more than N$10 million.
“The fire brigade was on scene when I arrived and they did a good job, but the fire was so big, there was not much anyone could do,” he added. “The most important part was preventing the fire from spreading further.”
Initial reports indicate that the fire might have started due to an electrical fault in the wholesaler.
According to Goosen the fire was under control at about 8:00 in the morning. By that time, the entire stock was reduced to piles of rubble. Nothing could be saved.
On the eastern side bordering Metro is the glass repair shop Klimas Glass. The shop sustained significant water and smoke damage, little stock was damaged though.
Bordering Metro and Klimas Glass is a garage which as gutted, along with a vehicle parked inside.
According to Goosen the fire brigade had used at least 20 000 litres of water by midday today.