JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 10 — A fire has destroyed about 700 shacks at the Jika Joe informal settlements in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province, said a provincial government official on Sunday.
KwaZulu-Natal Member of the Executive Council for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said in a statement that the fire left between 400 and 500 residents, mainly females, homeless. The fire broke out on Saturday afternoon, and the cause is still under investigation, Duma said. South African media outlet eNCA reported that firefighters, police, and emergency teams have rushed to the scene and managed to bring the blaze under control. Authorities have so far reported no confirmed deaths or injuries in the incident. Provincial disaster management authorities are assessing the extent of the damage and the immediate needs of affected residents. Further assistance is expected to be coordinated with local authorities and relevant humanitarian agencies.
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