Cape Town Blaze Almost Contained: Parks Agency
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published April 20, 2021 | 03:33 PM
A sweeping fire on South Africa's iconic Table Mountain that choked Cape Town with smoke and destroyed several historic sites including a university library was almost fully contained on Tuesday, officials said
Cape Town, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Apr, 2021 ) :A sweeping fire on South Africa's iconic Table Mountain that choked Cape Town with smoke and destroyed several historic sites including a university library was almost fully contained on Tuesday, officials said.
High winds had strengthened the blaze that was first spotted Sunday but calmer weather conditions Tuesday allowed for fire crews to ramp up their aerial attack with five helicopters, said Rey Thakhuli, spokesman for South Africa National Parks.
"Approximately 90 percent of the fire has been contained," he said in a statement to AFP.
The fire first broke out in the foothills of Table Mountain, a favourite with tourists, and spread to the University of Cape Town (UCT), destroying buildings and forcing students to flee.
At least 600 hectares (1,500 acres) of land were charred, according to the parks agency.
The university library that housed a unique collection of African archives and an 18th century Mostert's Hill windmill was gutted.
"It is not only the historic buildings themselves that have been lost, but their contents and collections," the Cape Town Heritage trust said in a statement Monday written from an office "enveloped in a pall of smoke".
Pictures of the library showed huge orange flames ripping through the building.
The university's Vice Chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng described the loss as "profound".
"We have lost our precious collection and some of it we will not be able to replace because it included part of the African Studies collection, (around) 3,500 African film collections, part of government publications collections," she told local televsion news network eNCA.
"We are devastated," she said.
More than 4,000 students were evacuated and put up in hotels, she said.
Cape Town city officials said residents from nearby areas were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
No casualties have been reported so far apart from four firefighters who have been injured.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
By-election for PP-93 Bhakkar on April 21
Lok Virsa starts E-ticketing for its valued customers
06 illegal arm holders held
Police crackdown on criminals, arrests wanted accused
DC visits examination center
Palestinian ambassador calls on PPP Chairman
Old Enmity: Man shot dead
Anti-polio drive to start from April 29
SSP Investigation conducted Khuli Katchery at Murree Police Station
Record-setting Duplantis lights up Xiamen, Richardson upset
Search operation conducted in Abid Majeed Road, Gulzar-e-Quaid areas
CM message on 'World Creativity and Innovation Day'
More Stories From World
-
Sharjah's Pakistan Social Centre provides relief goods to 500 families
1 hour ago -
South Korean doctors reject govt proposal to end strike
2 hours ago -
Pakistani heroes: unity, resilience shine amidst crisis in Sharjah
2 hours ago -
Israel says its forces kill 10 fighters in West Bank raid
3 hours ago -
Beale returns for victorious Force against Crusaders
3 hours ago -
Ivanka Trump flaunts Desert escapade amid father’s legal wows
3 hours ago
-
Blast at Iraq army base kills one, wounds others
4 hours ago -
Chinese swimmers failed doping tests ahead of Tokyo Olympics: NY Times
4 hours ago -
Sweden's Duplantis betters own pole vault world record
4 hours ago -
Chinese company releases world's highest thermal efficiency diesel engine in Tianjin
4 hours ago -
UK rules out youth mobility deal with EU
4 hours ago -
Iran, Israel appear to pull back from brink as Gaza bombed again
4 hours ago