Friday, 06 January 2012

Two killed in blaze

Two people were tragically killed in their sleep on New Year’s evening when they burnt to death in their cottage at the eSikhaleni Reserve outside eNseleni Township in Richards Bay. The cause of the blaze is unknown, which reportedly broke out around midnight on Sunday, burning 17 cottages to the ground. uMhlathuze Fire and Rescue and Rural Metro responded to the scene immediately and it took emergency workers about 30 minutes to contain the blaze.

The burnt bodies of two male occupants were later found. According to Chief Disaster Management Officer, Robert Nguni, 17 tenants were displaced. ‘The City of uMhlathuze and uThungulu District Municipality provided relief assistance to 11 victims in the form of food parcels, tents, blankets and mattresses. ‘Further assessments are being done,’ said Nguni. Investigations are still underway to ascertain the exact cause of the blaze, but it is speculated that one occupant could have fallen asleep with a lit candle.

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