KwaMashu Fire

Image via: KZN EMS

Watch: Fire ravages through KwaMashu township destroying 100 dwellings

Four people have been treated for minor injuries following the KwaMashu fire on Monday 15 June. No fatalities were reported.

KwaMashu Fire

Image via: KZN EMS

A raging fire consumed parts of the KwaMashu township, north of Durban, on Monday 15 June. 

KWAMASHU FIRE DESTROYS 100 INFORMAL DWELLINGS 

Paramedics and firefighters were at the scene of a raging fire on Monday 15 June in the KwaMashu township, A section, North of Durban. 

At 12:20 on Monday, KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services spokesperson Robert McKenzie said: 

“A fire has broken out at the informal settlement, approximately 100 informal dwellings have been destroyed in the blaze. Paramedics from KZN Emergency Medical services are currently on the scene and have treated four patients for minor injuries.” 

“Firefighters from the eThekwini Fire Department are busy battling the blaze. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage and is going to be investigated,” he added. 

Image via: KZN EMS

WATCH: PARTS OF KWAMASHU REDUCED TO ASHES 

In the two videos provided by KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services, one can see that many informal dwellings were torn apart and reduced to ashes. 

What’s left of tin roofs are strewn across the township while thick grey ash covers the ground. 

Firefighters, left with little place to stand due to collapsed structures, can be seen hosing down smaller flames. 

Residents can be seen gathering in the background. If approximately 100 dwellings were lost in the KwaMashu fire, hundreds of people could have lost their homes and belongings. This comes as South Africa is battling a gruelling winter with heavy rains and icy temperatures.

LOCALISED FLOODING EXPECTED IN KZN

There are concerns that rain will hit KwaZulu-Natal the hardest in the coming week. According to the South African Weather Service (SAWS), localised flooding is expected along the north coast of Durban late on Wednesday evening.

“The cold weather and snow that gripped parts of South Africa during the past days is expected to continue this week over the central and eastern parts, where it will get worse. Heavy rains which can lead to localized flooding are expected along the north coast of KZN into southern Mozambique on Wednesday night into Thursday,” it said in a statement. 

“This will be punctuated by cloudy conditions with showers of rain at times that are expected from Tuesday 16 June until Thursday 18 June, over North West, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and some parts of Limpopo. There’s a chance of graupel [snow] in Gauteng and south-eastern North West on Tuesday,” it added.