Two injured as Henties Bay SPAR burns down

Staff Reporter

DESPAIR, shock and disbelief are what Henties Bay residents are left with after a fire that erupted on Saturday at 20:16 not only burned down the SPAR supermarket causing losses of N$25 million but also led to the injury of two people.

The Erongo Police confirmed that a young man sustained serious injuries after he fell through the shop’s roof while trying to assist the fire-fighters at the scene of the incident. He was rescued by the Henties Bay Fire Brigade and transported to the Cottage Private Hospital in Swakopmund where he is in stable condition.

One of the fire-fighters also sustained injuries during the incident.

According to Lifelink Emergency Services, the fire-fighter was struck by a falling object during the damping down operations. He was then taken to a hospital as well.

According to the police, the cause of the fire is still unknown but the fire started at the SPAR takeaway kitchen and spread throughout the shop, burning everything down. The estimated losses are about N$25 million.

“Spar Henties Bay in flames. My heart bleeds tonight… It’s one of Henties’ life sources. Between the tears and shock and smoke, I cry all the time . . . and the town is in shock. What a dark night,” one of Henties Bay’s residents shared on Facebook.

Lifelink Emergency Services also noted that no other shops, except the coffee shop adjacent to Spar, was damaged. The coffee shop was heavily damaged, but preserved.

The fire was contained at about 3:30 with the assistance of Henties Bay and Swakopmund fire brigade services.

Lifelink Emergency Services also acknowledged the assistance of the Henties Bay Municipality Water Services, which diverted extra water to the main supply of the incident, and Namibia Medical Emergency Services (NEMS) ambulance from Swakopmund, which was on standby.