Candle causes massive Cape fire

2012-07-15 17:24

Candle photo from Shutterstock

Cape Town - A candle was the cause of the massive fire that wreaked havoc at Mandela informal settlement in Hout Bay on Sunday, killing one man, disaster management said.

"The deceased, Monwabisi Nguze, 39, was intoxicated at the time of the incident and went to bed without extinguishing a candle," said Cape Town head of disaster management Wilfred Solomons-Johannes.

He said 80 shacks were destroyed, leaving 400 people homeless. The fire, which started just after 01:00, destroyed most of the residents' belongings.

Humanitarian relief in the form of food, blankets and clothes were being provided for the victims, he said.

- SAPA