KwaZulu-Natal veld fires displace about 3,500 people
Parts of the coastal province have been gutted over the past week due to runaway fires.
Residents of Kenville informal settlement in KwaZulu-Natal pick up the pieces after fires ravaged the region, 16 July 2024. More than 100 homes were destroyed, affected at least 300 people. Picture: GCIS (KZN)
DURBAN - Nearly 3,500 people are displaced as a result of the veld fires that recently hit the KwaZulu-Natal province.
Parts of the coastal province have been gutted over the past week due to runaway fires.
READ: KZN fires: Birds eye view of devastation that left 300 people homeless
Recently, a blaze destroyed hundreds of homes in the Kenville community north of Durban, killing a pregnant woman instantly.
Premier Thami Ntuli says most of the affected victims are still homeless.
“These incidents have affected over 3,491 people, some of whom have no place to stay as their households were destroyed.”
He added most of the affected communities were in the King Cetshwayo District, in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
“A total of 403 houses were destroyed, while 340 were partially destroyed. Of these figures, King Cetshwayo District Municipality was heavily hit, with 214 houses completely destroyed and 117 partially damaged.”