AlgoaFM News
A boat-building business and storage facility in Gqeberha went up in flames on Monday night.
The bustling business is situated at the bottom of Brickmakers Kloof - diagonally opposite AlgoaFM House.
The fire started shortly before 9 pm and quickly tore through the premises as highly flammable materials used in the industry caught alight.
Several fire trucks were still at the scene on Tuesday morning, busy with dampening down operations.
A number of boats were destroyed in the fire and it is estimated that the damage will run into tens of millions of rands.
Warren Rackman, who owns Nauti-Tech Suzuki told AlgoaFM News that there's not much left but that fortunately there were no injuries or fatalities.
He says the fire Chief in charge tried to hold him back as he was desperate to salvage the boats of his clients.
Rackman managed to salvage three boats but lost about 16.
He says in total, about 35 boats between him and neighbouring Butcats/Yamaha were completely destroyed.
When AlgoaFM News arrived at the scene on Tuesday morning a bewildered staff member stared at the damage asking where he will find work now?
Some 60 people are employed at the two businesses
Rackman said he now has the daunting task of phoning his clients to break the news that their boats have been destroyed.
He said the insurance process would no-doubt be a long and involved one but that the damage will run into many millions of rands.
"Forensic analysis will be done in due course but apparently it started in the right-hand back corner of the Butcats sales side," said Rackman.
"At this stage, we really do not have any idea what caused the fire and now we have to tell all clients that they have no boats and break the news to everyone who works here too."
