The Imizamo Yethu fire has left hundreds of people homeless after blazes swept through informal sections of Imizamo Yethu and nearby Masiphumelele over the weekend, reports Cape {town} Etc.
According to EWN, the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre reports that preliminary checks show about 100 structures were damaged in Imizamo Yethu.
Community page WAAR Brandit INNI Kaap reports that more than 500 people have been rendered homeless following fires in Imizamo Yethu and Masiphumelele. The number of structures affected in Masiphumelele is still under verification as officials conduct door-to-door assessments.
Imizamo Yethu has experienced repeated shack fires due to dense, flammable structures, unsafe electrical connections and reliance on open flames.
Fire crews extinguished flames early on Sunday after multiple deployments to both settlements.
Emergency services continue to monitor hotspots and clear debris while humanitarian partners arrange temporary shelter, food and blankets for displaced families.
Local volunteers described frantic scenes as people salvaged what they could. One relief co-ordinator said the priority is safe shelter and fast registration so that affected households can receive short-term grants and longer term support from municipal relief programmes and SASSA.
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