Rédaction Africa Links 24 with sabcnews.com
Published on 2024-01-31 16:00:58
Residents of the Pringle Bay and Betty’s Bay areas in the Overstrand Municipality are anxiously monitoring the progress of a massive wildfire that continues to burn through the pristine wilderness.
The situation has become increasingly dire, with the community of Pringle Bay being urgently evacuated on Tuesday and four houses already destroyed.
This wildfire is just one of five major fires that have spread out across the Western Cape, occurring right in the middle of the province’s fire season.
The iconic landmark of Hangklip in Pringle Bay has remained untouched by fire for decades, with the fynbos in the area needing to burn every 12 to 15 years in order to fully regenerate.
However, on Tuesday, a blaze fueled by strong winds and dense vegetation created a massive fire, resulting in the destruction of four homes.
The community was able to return to their homes by Wednesday morning, but Hangklip is now barren as the fire slowly makes its way towards Betty’s Bay. A precautionary evacuation order is in place for residents as the fire continues to spread.
Dean O’Neill, Manager of the Overstrand Municipality, has estimated that it could take another two days to get the fire under control, and the situation remains critical.
Provincial authorities have expressed deep concern about the increasingly dense vegetation posing a risk, especially combined with strong winds and hot temperatures.
This type of environment acts as fuel for fires and can cause them to quickly burn out of control.
The impact of global warming has also seen fires burning hotter and faster than ever before, with alien vegetation adding to these concerns.
Anton Bredell, MEC of Environmental Affairs, has announced that a global warming summit will be called in the province to discuss how to rebuild and plan following major environmental events.
Municipalities across the province have memorandums of understanding in place to assist each other in these situations. It has been reported that more than 90% of all fires are caused by human activity, which is why the public is once more urged to be extremely cautious when making or working with fire.
The situation has been captured on video, showing the urgency of the evacuation of residents in Pringle Bay due to the raging wildfire.
The urgency of the situation has highlighted the need for increased awareness and conversation about addressing the impact of wildfires and the importance of taking preventative measures.
The community and authorities are working together to address the current crisis and to plan for future events in the face of a changing climate.
Read Original article on SABC
