South Africa: Thousands remain displaced as wildfires sweep across the region
After strong winds caused wildfires to flare-up in South Africa on Saturday, a lighter wind early this week will aid in firefighting efforts.
While Cape Town endured the brunt of flooding rain from the strongest winter storm in recent years to strike the region, strong winds fanned fires in the Eden District of South Africa’s Southern Cape late last week.
Western Cape Government reported that the number of residents of the Eden district who were displaced as fires swept through roughly 20 suburbs of Knysna and the surrounding area peaked at over 10,000.
On Friday, more than half of those residents were allowed to return home.
In this photo taken Wednesday, 7 June 2017, onlookers watch a blaze in the Kranshoek area of South Africa. The fire, fanned by high winds spread to nearby Plettenburg Bay and Knysna in the Western Cape Province. (AP Photo/Ewald Stander)
One firefighter died battling the blazes on Thursday, while another was hospitalized with burns on 50 percent of his body, according to the local government.
As strong winds whipped the flames on Saturday, five firefighters received minor injuries.
Including the firefighter, the death toll from the powerful storm was brought to 10. On Thursday morning local time, the body of a three-year-old was found in the suburb of Welbedacht. The child was recovered from a burnt outbuilding, according to The Citizen.
In the Cape Town suburb of Kraaifontein, lightning is being blamed for starting a fire that killed four others.
"More than 400 firefighters from almost every town and city along South Africa's southern coastline have responded to the call [late last week]," a report from Volunteer Wildfire Services stated. At least 300 structures have been damaged or destroyed.
On Friday, eighty percent of the fires in both Knysna and Bitou were contained, according to the Eden District Municipality. However, strong winds on Saturday caused fires to flare-up once again.
In this photo taken Wednesday, June 7, 2017, firemen fight a blaze in the Kranshoek area in South Africa. (AP Photo/Ewald Stander)
Firefighters finally caught a break from the weather on Sunday as winds calmed and temperatures lowered, allowing crews to utilize aerial support.
Early this week, a few showers will brush the southern coast of South Africa, but rainfall will not be sufficient to aid in firefighting efforts. Inland areas will be dry altogether.
<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KnysnaFires?src=hash">#KnysnaFires</a> Fire damage to some properties in the area. KB <a href="https://t.co/3jwxRkgUst">pic.twitter.com/3jwxRkgUst</a></p>— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/ewnreporter/status/873082418269306880">June 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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While a gusty wind will develop on Monday afternoon, wind will not be as strong as what was seen on Saturday. A lighter wind is in store for Tuesday.
“South Africa has been in desperate need of rainfall following two years of water shortages that have resulted in a drought declaration,” AccuWeather meteorologist Eric Leister said.
Two dams in the region had completely dried up in May, according to the BBC.
The firefighting efforts have worsened the region's water shortage.
<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">OUR WATER SYSTEMS UNDER STRESS<br>Most of the water systems are severely stressed as a result of the fire fighting efforts.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KnysnaFire?src=hash">#KnysnaFire</a> <a href="https://t.co/UC6hSOOkri">pic.twitter.com/UC6hSOOkri</a></p>— KnysnaMunicipality (@KnysnaMuni) <a href="https://twitter.com/KnysnaMuni/status/873076681438670849">June 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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