An as yet unidentified number of customers who were staying at the Avenida Hotel in Maputo city left the resort as a result of a fire that broke out in one of the rooms.

The case took place in the early hours of Friday morning, according to a source who witnessed the situation.

"That's when the movement of guests began, because it seems that they could already feel the smoke in the hotel," said a source, adding that "they walked to other hotels".

There appear to have been no human victims.

It is suspected that the fire was caused by an anomaly in the machinery under the building.

The situation has been brought under control, but residents who witnessed the work of the public rescue corps question the efficiency of the operatives.