Six firemen have died after being trapped by a raging wildfire in eastern South Africa, bringing the total number of deaths to 14.
Three female firemen were killed on Sunday after being caught in a fire that officials believe was sparked by poachers about 40 kilometers (24 miles) from Pietermaritzburg. Three more firefighters later died in the hospital, according to uMngeni municipality Mayor Chris Pappas, with one more fighting for his life in the hospital. Pappas informed the media that the blaze was likely caused by poachers who use flames to scare animals away.
The six firefighters who perished were part of a private group hired by Sappi Forests to provide firefighting and forestry services, the company said. “The adverse weather conditions contributed to uncontrollable fires which ultimately trapped eight members of the team,” Sappi stated. “In the tragic events that ensued, three firefighters were unable to escape and suffered fatal wounds at the scene.” Three others with serious burns were evacuated to a hospital but died later, the report added.
A provincial official told AFP that the number of individuals who have died in wildfires across various regions of KwaZulu-Natal since July 6 has reached 14, with ongoing warnings of fire hazards due to dry, hot, and windy weather.