A 65-year-old British woman out walking with her daughter died in the fire raging across the lower slopes of Table Mountain above Cape Town’s city bowl, according to radio reports.
Three German tourists are also reported to be trapped on the mountain, and rescue crews are searching for them. No further details were immediately available.
Four houses in upper Higgovale were also reported to be on fire at 6pm and residents of the suburb are reported to be evacuating.
Homes in upper Tamboerskloof on the slopes of Lion’s Head in Cape Town were also being evacuated.
Cape Town fire chief Piet Smith told the South African Press Association that the fire was threatening property below Tafelberg Road. There are no private properties above the road. The suburbs below it include Tamboerskloof, Oranjezicht, Higgovale, Gardens and Vredehoek.
Residents used handkerchiefs and T-shirts as makeshift masks and stood in the streets watching 18 to 20 fire fighters battle the fire. Some of them ran from the scene cradling pets in their arms. As the flames licked closer to their homes, residents in one area used hosepipes, ice buckets and cooler boxes filled with water to douse the flames across the road.
Kloof Nek Road was closed to traffic.
”It’s quite a large fire on the side of the mountain facing the dock area,” said Smith.
Apart from firemen, officials from the national parks and the working on fire programme were also ”throwing everything at it”, he said.
Smith said the firefighters’ task was being hampered by a strong south-easterly wind.
”A strong wind is fanning the flames and it’s out of control.”
He could not say when the fire might be brought under control. – Sapa