cargo consisted mainly of electrical components and parts, electronic components and parts, hardware, paper articles, textiles, medicines and sports equipment. Some articles from the main deck cargo which were recovered showed evidence of fire damage. None of the observed cargo from the lower holds had any signs of fire or heat. Extensive investigations have been made into rumours that the cargo included a quantity of fireworks. The results have been negative. The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) conducted numerous tests to determine whether slgns of nitrates and/or ferrites were present, but the evidence is inconclusive. Pallet PR, in which the fire started, could not have carried a large quantity of fireworks because almost all the contents of that pallet were accounted for. But even a very small quantity could have provided a source of ignition because of the lnstabllity of the chemicals used and their responsiveness to heat.
1.7 Meteorological Information
Very little information on the actual weather conditions at the accident site is available. From the actual condition at Mauritius and Rodrigues together with the 03:00 satellite picture, the following weather conditions were estimated:
