Veld fire kills Limpopo worker
2008-09-02 21:15
Johannesburg - Forest fires have killed a 36-year-old farmworker and injured a 29-year-old woman, said Limpopo local government department spokesperson Clayson Monyela on Tuesday.
"Forest fires in the Vaal Water area of the Waterberg district municipality destroyed about 30 000ha land, one man was killed and a woman has been admitted to hospital."
He said there had been veld fires in the province since Monday.
In the Sekhukhune district, there had been grass fires, which had been put out, near Jane Furse.
Hectares of plantations and orchards have been destroyed in Leobi, Zabana, Haenertsburg and Christina's Rust in the Mopani district municipality.
In the Vhembe district municipality, the Levubu and Greenfarm areas in the Hulamela municipality have been affected by the forest fires, and three families were left without accommodation.
The fire services in the district have kept the blazes under control and the provincial disaster management centre has helped victims with food, blankets and tents.
He said two air force helicopters had been asked to help with aerial firefighting. No injuries or deaths had been reported in the Mopani district.
He urged residents to contact the provincial disaster toll free-number 080 022 2111 should there be any forest fire that developed in their area.
- SAPA