Commuter train services in the South African city of Cape Town were suspended early on Thursday morning following a fire which burnt several carriages.
An alarm over the incident was raised at about 2.30am and the fire was put out just over two hours later, according to the City of Cape Town fire service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse.
Carelse said no injuries were reported in the incident and the scene was handed over to the Passenger Rail Association of South Africa.
The Times Live, a local publication, reported that a limited service was restored at around 8am, however, 10 platforms were completely closed off as authorities searched through the wreckage of the carriages.
According to the spokesperson of Western Cape Metrorail, Riana Scott, a substance used to aid the spread of fire was used by arsonists, whom she said were responsible for the incident.
Scott added that the cost of the damage would be assessed after the carriages were moved to a depot and technical and recovery teams would also evaluate the strength of underlying and overhead infrastructure.
South Africa’s Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula, who condemned the incident, is expected to visit Cape Town Station to assess the extent of damage and address the media following the inspection.
“We must all join in and condemn the acts of damage to services that help the most vulnerable amongst us to get to work and their homes. The burning of trains is violent and an attack to the poor,” Mbalula said on his official twitter account.
Rail services in South Africa, which are still used by many residents, have been negatively affected by a series of arson attacks which have not been solved.
