Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News

3 minutes read. Updated 5:08PM GMT Mon, 15 July, 2024

In a devastating incident in South Africa’s eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, six firefighters have tragically lost their lives while battling a fierce bushfire, with two others currently in critical condition, emergency services confirmed on Monday.

According to emergency services spokesperson Roland Robertson, suspicions have arisen that the fire, which occurred on Sunday near the town of Boston, may have been sparked by poachers attempting to set traps. The intense blaze claimed the lives of three firefighters on the scene, approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) inland from Durban, with three others succumbing to their injuries shortly after being hospitalized. One firefighter remains on a ventilator, while another is also in critical condition.

Authorities reported that some of the suspected poachers themselves sustained injuries amidst the fires, which spread uncontrollably across private farms due to high winds and dry conditions. No arrests related to the suspected poaching incident have been made thus far.

The tragic incident comes amid a wave of wildfires that have ravaged various parts of KwaZulu-Natal over the past week, exacerbated by scorching temperatures and strong winds. Reports from local government indicate that at least seven additional fatalities have occurred in different areas of the province due to these fires.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the country, South Africa’s Cape Town and surrounding regions have been grappling with severe weather conditions, including powerful storms that have caused widespread damage. Gale-force winds and flooding resulting from multiple storms originating from the Atlantic Ocean have affected around 15,000 individuals, with thousands of homes and structures damaged or destroyed over the past ten days.

This tragic loss of firefighters underscores the perilous conditions faced by emergency responders combating natural disasters across South Africa, amidst both wildfires and severe weather events impacting communities nationwide.

Backlinks: South African Emergency Services, KwaZulu-Natal Government, Cape Town Storm Damage Relief