Sunday, September 16, 2007

Cape shack blaze leaves scores homeless

Almost 100 people have been left homeless this evening. This, after a raging fire destroyed about 40 shacks at an informal settlement in Phillipi near Cape Town.

Residents claim the fire was caused by a paraffin stove which overturned. Eight fire engines were dispatched to the scene. Fire-fighters battled for nearly two hours before they could put out the flames.

Leroy Cloete of the Gugulethu Fire station says they responded immediately, but the fire left a trail of destruction in its wake. Some of the victims sifted through mangled, charred debris trying to salvage what they could. They are being housed at a nearby community hall. - SABC

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