Emergency teams, disaster officials and humanitarian organisations are navigating a demanding 24-hour period after a series of fires tore through multiple Western Cape communities, leaving widespread destruction and families in urgent need of support.
It comes after multiple fires affected informal settlements across the Western Cape between Saturday afternoon and early Sunday morning.
Two deaths have already been confirmed, as hundreds have been displaced and assessments are ongoing, according to Cape Argus.
Disaster Risk Management (DRM) confirms simultaneous responses across Nomzamo, Klapmuts, Gugulethu, Fisantekraal and Dunoon.
Meanwhile, Humanitarian groups, particularly Gift of the Givers, are now leading urgent relief operations as officials work to stabilise each affected area, as per EWN.
Gift of the Givers’ provincial representative Ali Sablay described the last day as ‘an exceptionally busy 24 hours,’ noting that the first distress call came from Klapmuts on Saturday afternoon.
‘The first call came yesterday afternoon from frantic community leaders in Klapmeuts, where one fatality was sadly reported,‘ Sablay explained.
Teams were deployed shortly afterward.
Shortly after the Klapmuts response, Gift of the Givers dispatched emergency support to Gugulethu, where another fire left 80 people homeless, according to Sablay.
Sablay said the last 24 hours demanded an all-hands-on-deck response.
‘Late last night, as strong winds intensified, a major fire swept through the Nomzamo informal settlement in Strand, destroying more than 100 structures and leaving hundreds homeless.’
‘Gift of the Givers has activated a full humanitarian response, with additional resources deployed to Nomzamo at the request of the community,’ he confirmed.
Teams are distributing essentials, including meals, clothing, hygiene packs and blankets at each site.
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