4 000 homeless after blaze
2004-03-15 08:49
Cape Town - About 4 000 people have been left homeless by a weekend fire that killed six residents of Langa's Joe Slovo settlement, Cape Town Emergency Services said on Monday.
Spokesperson Johan Minnie said the homeless are being housed in two halls in the area. A number of non-government bodies were providing them with blankets and food.
These organisations were to be reimbursed later by the provincial department of social services.
Minnie said earlier information that nine people died in the blaze had been revised. It now appeared that six residents succumbed while two others were unaccounted for.
The fire started at about 15:00 on Sunday afternoon and spread quickly in the heat and the wind, devouring about 1 000 shacks.
Some residents had opted to remain at their razed shacks for fear of losing their site in the settlement when rebuilding begins.
Minnie said city engineers would take this opportunity to upgrade the area, providing for safety features such as fire breaks and fire fighting equipment.
- SAPA