Four children were killed and eight rescued by a child care worker after a fire broke out at an educare centre for disabled children in Makhaza, Khayelitsha today.
This morning relatives, including some parents, rushed to the scene after the blaze burnt down the Zanokhanyo Educare Centre.
Shocked parents wailed and threw themselves to the ground as they arrived at the scene.
One mother who was inquiring about the whereabouts of her child wept and screamed when no one could tell her if her child was dead or alive. "This can't happen," she cried.
Upon discovering that her son had died, she began to wail with grief.
The children who lost their lives were between the ages of 11 and 21.
Caregiver Victoria Libazi said she had been alerted to the fire after hearing children screaming.
Libazi said she had been busy in another room changing nappies when two six-year-olds came running, screaming about a fire.
"I ran after them only to find a bedroom filled with smoke. I couldn't see anything as I scrambled to save the children," Libazi said.
She managed to carry eight of the 12 children out of the burning shelter.
The survivors, who are between four months and 21 years old, were taken to a nearby centre.
The shocked owner of the educare centre, Sipho Nditha, said he suspected a gas leak had started the fire. The corrugated structure had seven rooms, all of which were destroyed. - Cape Argus
This morning relatives, including some parents, rushed to the scene after the blaze burnt down the Zanokhanyo Educare Centre.
Shocked parents wailed and threw themselves to the ground as they arrived at the scene.
One mother who was inquiring about the whereabouts of her child wept and screamed when no one could tell her if her child was dead or alive. "This can't happen," she cried.
Upon discovering that her son had died, she began to wail with grief.
The children who lost their lives were between the ages of 11 and 21.
Caregiver Victoria Libazi said she had been alerted to the fire after hearing children screaming.
Libazi said she had been busy in another room changing nappies when two six-year-olds came running, screaming about a fire.
"I ran after them only to find a bedroom filled with smoke. I couldn't see anything as I scrambled to save the children," Libazi said.
She managed to carry eight of the 12 children out of the burning shelter.
The survivors, who are between four months and 21 years old, were taken to a nearby centre.
The shocked owner of the educare centre, Sipho Nditha, said he suspected a gas leak had started the fire. The corrugated structure had seven rooms, all of which were destroyed. - Cape Argus
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