A fire broke out, early this afternoon, in the commercial establishment selling clothing and accessories for men's fashion, Milano, at Av. 24 de Julho, in the Polana neighborhood, in Maputo city.

The fire reportedly started around 12:30 in the basement of the store itself, according to the STV television channel.

Already on the scene, the National Public Rescue Service (SENSAP) would not have immediately started the process to dissipate the fire because they did not have smoke masks (oxygen masks) to access the basement "and no element wanted to enter."

"Practically, they stood there for over half an hour watching, on the outside, circling the car, going back and forth. It wasn't pumping water. The second car came and that's what you're seeing. There's smoke there," said a witness who identified himself as Dino.

Another witness said that smoke was initially noticed rising and immediately people nearby tried to put out the first flames with water, but the fire gained more strength until the public rescue body arrived.