Three people have died in a shack fire in Masiphemelele informal settlement earlier today 31 December.
Firefighters discovered a body of a woman and two men in the debris around 5am.
According to firefighters spokesman Jermaine Carelse, the fire broke out around 2am.
Several shacks have been destroyed during the fire.
Carelse said: “Three people died in an early morning fire in Masiphumelele, today Saturday December 31.
The City’s Fire and Rescue Service was alerted just after 2am that structures were burning in Sobukwe Road.”
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Firefighters from Kommetjie fire station were first to attend the incident.
The firefighters called for additinal support after as they saw the raging flames.
“In total there were 6 fire engines and 3 water tankers on the scene as well as more than 40 staff.
By 5.45am firefighters had managed to contain and extinguish the fire which had destroyed several informal structures, leaving a number of people displaced,” said Carelse.
The cause of the fire is unknown and the scene was handed over to the South African Police Service.
Meanwhile another fire gutted over 150 shacks in Du Noon on Friday. Gift of the Givers and Sassa officials are on the scene assisting the fire victims.
Three people died in shack fires
The incident happens in less than a month of another devastating fire in Masiphumelele.
