A fire that broke out in Phola Park in Philippi, an informal settlement in Cape Town, claimed the life of one woman and left over 700 people displaced.
Also read: Hundreds displaced as fire rips through Dunoon
According to the non-profit organisation, Gift of the Givers, it was the third fire to hit Cape Town within 48 hours.
The fire reportedly broke out early Sunday morning.
EWN reports that the City of Cape Town’s disaster risk management said 247 housing structures were gutted, leaving 760 people displaced.
According to the report, City fire and rescue service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said, “A total of 12 firefighting appliances and more than 50 staff battled the blaze. The body of the woman who died was found amongst the debris. The cause of the fire is unknown.”
Gift of the Givers, along with Disaster Management and the South African Social Security Agency, are assisting in providing relief.
Last week, More than 350 people were displaced when a fire destroyed some 120 structures in Dunoon yesterday afternoon.
The City’s law enforcement was also requested to assist with crowd control when some members of the public attempted to disrupt the operations of the firefighters.
More than 60 firefighters were using 16 firefighting appliances to contain the blaze in Usasaza Street.
However, efforts were hampered by the close proximity of structures, many of which were double stories, making it difficult for vehicles to manoeuvre through the congested space.
This came a few weeks after another fire tore through the Masiphumelele informal settlement, leaving more than 1,000 residents without homes.
Disaster risk management officer at the City of Cape Town, Sonica Lategan, said that around 375 structures were destroyed in the fire, which took place on Monday 21 November.
Lategan clarified that no fatalities or injuries have been reported, but that 1,102 individuals were affected.
Also read:
Hundreds of people lose their homes after fire in Masiphumelele
Pictures: Facebook/ Gift of the Givers