UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Press Release

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.

Fire at crayfish factory

-  News flash  -

The crayfish factory burned down last night (12 February), but thankfully there were no casualties. 

There is minimal stand power currently on the island, and all telecommunications and internet communications are unreliable, depending on electricity provision. 

Government and Ovenstone staff are working to restore additional basic power as a temporary alternative until additional assistance arrives from Cape Town.

Updates will be provided as they are available