Tristan : UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Press Release
Submitted by Tristan Times (Sarah Glass) 13.02.2008 (Article Archived on 16.04.2008)

We can confirm that early on Wednesday 13 February there was a fire at the fish-processing factory on Tristan da Cunha.

Photo (c) David Morley A view of the fire damage

UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Press Release

 We can confirm that early on Wednesday 13 February there was a fire at the fish-processing factory on Tristan da Cunha.  This has, in turn, destroyed the generators that provide power to the island.  There  were no injuries.  The cause of the fire is currently unknown.

 Our Administrator on the island is working closely with Tristan’s Public Works Department to ensure that standby power is provided to essential services.

 We are liaising with the factory owners, Ovenstone Agencies, in Cape Town, DfID and other procurement agencies to ensure that a replacement generator for the island is obtained quickly.  We hope that it will travel on the RFA Lyme Bay when it sails from Cape Town on its way down to Tristan before the end of February.