Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Man dies in Cape Town shack fire

Cape Town - A man who was burnt in a shack fire in an informal settlement in Masiphumelele, near Fish Hoek, died on Tuesday, said the City of Cape Town.
The fire destroyed 27 shacks and displaced 100 people early on Tuesday morning, the city's mayoral committee member for safety and security Jean-Pierre Smith said in a statement.
A woman was treated for smoke inhalation.
Cape Town residents were warned to be cautious over the next few days as the hot weather conditions could lead to runaway fires.
Smith also called on residents to be vigilant when making fires, especially in high-risk areas such as informal settlements, because they might spread.
The spread of fires was directly influenced by the materials used in the construction of the shacks and the distance between each shack, Smith said.
He urged residents to use cooking and heating devices responsibly and not to use illegal electricity connections.
- Sapa

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