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Tourist dead, 3 missing in Table Mountain fire
26/01/2006 19:06 - (SA)
Cape Town - A 65-year-old British woman out walking with her daughter died in a fire raging across the lower slopes of Table Mountain above Cape Town's city bowl on Thursday, according to radio reports.
Three German tourists are also reported to be trapped on the mountain, and rescue crews are searching for them.
Burnt-out wrecks of vehicles could be seen in the cable car parking lot as well.
No more details were available.
Four houses in upper Higgovale were also reported ablaze at 18:00 and residents of the suburb were evacuating.
Homes in upper Tamboerskloof on the slopes of Lion's Head in Cape Town were also being evacuated.
Cape Town fire chief Piet Smith told Sapa the fire was threatening property below Tafelberg Road.
There are no private properties above the road. The suburbs below it include Tamboerskloof, Oranjezicht, Higgovale, Gardens and Vredehoek. According to a witness, the flames have reached the top of the mountain.
Another witness says the fire has now also spread to Signal Hill. Streets cordoned off
Residents were carrying furniture out of their homes and running around with water buckets.
Many gathered on pavements to watch firefighters attempting to douse the flames fanned by strong winds, as various streets in the area were closed off for fire engines to access the blaze.
In Tamboerskloof, people gathered on Kloof Nek Road to watch the fire lay ruin to trees across the street from homes.
The blaze is being fought by firefighters with 18 to 20 fire tenders, assisted by three helicopters with water buckets.
"It's quite a large fire on the side of the mountain facing the dock area," said Smith.
Apart from firemen, officials from the national parks and the Working on Fire programme were also "throwing everything at it", he said.
Smith said the firefighters' task was being hampered by a strong south-easterly wind. "A strong wind is fanning the flames and it's out of control."
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