Fire outbreak injures four, displaces hundreds in South Africa

By Omotayo Edubi

Four people are receiving medical care and around 400 families are homeless after a fire broke out at Cemetery View in Woodlands, East of Pretoria, South Africa.

The fire broke out Sunday midnight, and according to Tshwane emergency services department, firefighters arrived at the scene to find multiple shack dwellings on fire, with flames more than 20m high.

Firefighters reported hearing multiple explosions during the operation which they believed to be from gas cylinder bottles.

According to reports, firefighters managed to contain the blaze at around 1.38am and fully extinguished the fire at about 3.30am on Sunday.

The total number of shacks on fire was estimated to be 400 during firefighting operations. An assessment is underway to determine the exact number of shacks and households affected.

Disaster management and social development officials are on the ground conducting the assessment and a local church is sheltering some of those affected.

Four people, whose gender and ages are not yet determined, were transported to hospital by private ambulance services.

One of the four is in a critical condition. The others are in stable conditions.

Fire safety officials have been dispatched to determine the cause of the blaze.