9 killed as shack fires ravage CT informal settlements

Firefighters responded to several major incidents across the Peninsula which have left hundreds homeless.

Hundreds of shacks were razed to the ground, leaving hundreds displaced in separate incidents in Khayelitsha and Hout Bay on 27 December 2015. Picture: Natalie Malgas/EWN.

Natalie Malgas | 1396 days ago

CAPE TOWN - It's been a grim Christmas weekend for some families across the Cape after a rash of blazes claimed at least nine lives, including two children, and left hundreds more people homeless.

Firefighters responded to several major incidents across the Peninsula when fires ripped through areas including Khayelitsha, Hout Bay and Mfuleni.

Fire crews also responded to a burning train at Cape Town station late yesterday.

#HoutBayFire some of the men in the community have taken to work trying to clean up the rubble. NM pic.twitter.com/ESx1WUjRrD
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) December 27, 2015

#HoutBayFire mothers and children are seen moving toward the nearby community centre. Those who can are leaving. NM pic.twitter.com/Kb9YXAUSP3
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) December 27, 2015

Cape Town firefighters battled strong winds and raging flames for over eight hours before three vegetation fires at Slangkop, Misty Cliffs and Glencairn were brought under control on Saturday.

Officials say some of the blazes broke out as teams were responding to fires in Uitsig, Delft, Mfuleni and Overcome Heights near Vrygrond.

Hundreds of shacks were razed to the ground, leaving hundreds displaced in separate incidents in Khayelitsha and Hout Bay yesterday.

Fire crews will remain on high alert across the Peninsula where strong wind conditions are expected to persist for much of the week.

CITY OF CAPE TOWN CALLED TO INTERVENE

The Hout Bay Civic Association has called on the City of Cape Town to prioritise Imizamo Yethu as a high-risk zone after four lives were lost in separate blazes in the area over the past several months.

Several emergency shelters have been set up to accommodate families affected by the blaze.

This is the second fire to strike Zola section in Imizamo Yethu in six weeks.

The Hout Bay Civic Association's Roscoe Jacobs says they have since called on the city to provide residents with fire-proof materials.

"So we're calling on them to actually implement these things within commmunitites, such as Imizamo Yethu where fires are actually prevalence. We've lost four lives in that area since August."

The city's Disaster Risk Management officials have begun clearing the debris so residents can start rebuilding their homes.

Timeline

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