Seven people‚ including a baby‚ killed in Western Cape forest fire

The death toll in the George blaze has risen to seven‚ emergency services in the Western Cape confirmed on Monday.

It was initially reported that four people – a baby‚ two toddlers and an adult – had died in the wildfires. But authorities said that three other people had died in the same area.

All seven deaths have been in the Karatara area.

"We are trying to maintain the raging fires at this stage with the deployment and the fire brigades from various municipalities‚” said police spokesman Captain Malcolm Pojie.

He said that a pregnant woman was among those reported dead.

Speaking after the announcement of the first four deaths‚ Western Cape local government spokesperson James-Brent Styan said: “We are doing what we can. It's an ongoing struggle and it remains critical at this stage.”

Earlier on Monday, Styan made note of the fact that the fire was "serious" and three areas were evacuated as a precaution.

By Monday evening‚ at least 200 people had been evacuated in the nearby Knysna area and were being housed in the Karatara Community Hall.

"The problem is the interface between the town and the forest where this fire is coming from. It is coming down from the mountain‚ down the Outeniqua Pass‚" Styan said.

The Western Cape Disaster Management Centre‚ Working on Fire and two municipalities were battling the raging blazes in the province.

The Outeniqua Pass remained closed on Monday evening.