Knysna fires claim seventh victim

THE fires raging in the Knysna area claimed their seventh victim at the weekend.

The Western Cape Disaster Management Centre reported that the mother of a four-year-old child who was confirmed to have died on Wednesday in Welbedacht‚ had also died on Saturday night in Cape Town’s Tygerberg Hospital.

“The total number of fatalities for the Eden region‚ as confirmed by the SAPS, is now seven. This number includes one fire fighter‚” it said.

Western Cape police said the woman‚ a Malawian national‚ was the mother of four-year-old Catherine Matope‚ who died due to severe burns sustained during the fires on Wednesday. The woman was reported as missing to the police after the child’s body was found next to a dam at Narnia Village in Welbedacht.

“A search ensued and she was later found in a critical condition at the Knysna Private Hospital. Preliminary investigation confirmed she was transferred to Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town on Friday‚” Captain Malcolm Pojie said.

Meanwhile‚ the WCDMC said the fires in George had been contained and that fire fighting conditions in the Eden district in general remained favourable.

The Eden district includes the towns of George‚ Knysna‚ Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn.

Fires are also reported to have been contained at the north side of Sedgefield (Barrington‚ Karatara and Elandskraal, as well as in the north side of Knysna (Wit Lokasie‚ Concordia and Nekkies).

A number of new hotspots in Knysna itself have apparently also been contained.

According to the disaster centre‚ 1 106 fire fighters are deployed in the area. — TMG