No deaths or injuries were reported. (This is a miracle!! If this happened in the holiday season who knows what might have happened. )
Exact total of houses destroyed will be released later this morning after assessment of the area. Expected total to be more than 100 houses.
Eastern Cape firefighters make progress
Johannesburg - The fire that burnt down more than 100 houses in St Francis Bay was now under control, the Kouga Municipality said on Monday.
“The fire now has been half extinguished, no more immediate threat to other houses. We don't have any final figure yet, but it would be more than 100 houses burnt down,” said municipal spokesperson Laura-Leigh Randall in an SMS update sent just before midnight.
For hours, firefighters battled with raging flames which were fanned by a strong westerly wind.
Ten fire engines had been brought to fight the flames and more had been called in from the Nelson Mandela Bay and Koukamma municipalities to help, Randall said.
“The cause of the fire is not known but the fire started at about 5.30pm at Royal Wharf developments which is mainly townhouses,” she said.
All residents in the area had been asked to evacuate and a temporary joint operations centre had been set up at the local police station.
Most of the houses in the area are holiday homes.
- Sapa/IOL
Video: St Francis Bay on Fire
Published on Nov 11, 2012 by Nevil Hulett
View from Big Time Taverina
St Francis Bay @stfrancisbay
VERY approximate path of the fire, pic c/o Richard Arderne St Francis Bay
St Francis Bay St Francis Bay @stfrancisbay
St Francis Fire, the morning after, from the water - pictures Richard Arderne
Photos: St Francis inferno via The Herald - Click HERE
St Francis Bay @stfrancisbay
Fire aftermath - St Francis Connect
Ruined ghost town on the canals - St Francis Chronicle Click HERE for latest news and images.
Aerial photos of St Francis fire - source: Jacques Bellingan
Photos: 2012 St Francis Bay Blaze Aftermath - Algoa FM Click HERE to view.
TO BE UPDATE...........
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