Fires in northern KwaZulu-Natal have killed at least two people on Sunday, authorities said.
Police spokesperson Director Phindile Radebe said she could confirm the deaths of two people — an 85-year-old man and his 58-year-old wife in the Madesheni area near Nkandla.
She could not confirm any more deaths, but was awaiting reports from officers in the area.
The provincial Emergency Medical Rescue Services said as many 15 people had died in the fires, but this could not immediately be independently verified.
A police source in the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the veld fire which claimed the lives of the husband and wife, had started early in the morning.
He said the fire was still burning out of control. He could not confirm any further casualties.
A further four fires are blazing in the Dubuni and Makasaneni areas near Melmoth. At least five houses in Dubuni are reported to have gone up in flames.
On Saturday night the region’s only firefighting plane crashed near Babanango shortly after take-off, killing the pilot.
A local protection services officer in the Melmoth area, who spoke to the South African Press Association on condition of anonymity, said: ”It just smoke everywhere. It’s chaotic. The fires are totally out of control.” – Sapa