Nine people die as fires flare up in dry Cape Town

11 March 2017 - 11:47 By Dave Chambers
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At least nine people including three children have died in shack fires in Cape Town‚ late on Friday and early on Saturday.

Fire in IY Hout Bay. The reality on the ground. This video sent by Patrick who works for my daughter. Absolute devastation and helplessness. So very very sad

Posted by Melodie Diamond on Friday, March 10, 2017

The first of three fires broke out in Wesbank. It destroyed three homes and killed a boy‚ a girl‚ a man and a woman‚ according to City of Cape Town fire and rescue spokesman Theo Layne.

Just after midnight‚ the fire service was called to Mandela Park in Hout Bay‚ where two people were killed. “Numerous informal structures were alight when they arrived‚” said Layne.

“More than 12 firefighting vehicles were dispatched from various fire stations with more than 70 firefighters. By 8am the fire was still not completely contained.” A man‚ a woman and a boy were killed in a fire at 4.45am in Kosovo‚ near Philippi.

 

The city is battling extremely dry conditions with a persistent drought.

 

TMG Digital/TimesLive

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