34-ton whale set alight

2006-08-02 16:08

Cape Town - Officials set fire to a 34-ton whale carcass on Wednesday, sending white smoke into the air near Cape Town as onlookers climbed over blubber-strewn rocks for a closer look.

The dead southern right whale washed up on to the quiet Kommetjie beach, 40km south two weeks ago.

Officials packed tons of wood and poured 80 litres of a petrol and diesel fuel mix on the decomposing 15m whale to spark a fire expected to burn for up to two days.

"The first prize would have been to leave it here to decompose, but with residents nearby, and the smell," Robin Adams, operations manager for the Table Mountain National Park, said that wasn't an option.

"The oil and fat seeping back into the sea was also attracting sharks," he said as a strong wind blew smoke away from adjacent homes.

The dead whale was supposed to be burned last week, but officials decided to wait for perfect weather and tidal conditions.

The whale has drawn huge crowds of curious onlookers; with young and old climbing over rocks covered by rotting whale fat and braving an unpleasant smell to look at the giant carcass.

- Reuters