PMB student tells of UCT fire terror
By Latoya Newman
Share
Durban - TAâRIQ Mohabir, of Pietermaritzburg, had just settled in at a student residence at the University of Cape Town (UCT) on Wednesday when, within just four days, a wildfire ripped through the area.
âWe were in our residence when we saw thick clouds of smoke to the point that we felt we could not breathe. It was so hot. It felt like heaters were on in our rooms. Outside was just as hot,â said Mohabir.
The wildfire started on Sunday morning at Rhodes Memorial. It later spread to UCT, then towards the Devilâs Peak Estate/Vredehoek area of the Cape Town City Bowl. Mohabir, 19, a first-year student, is studying business science in actuarial science. He was based at the Glenres Campus.
Tuesday 20 April 2021 - 9:00am
eNCA s Monique Mortlock spoke with City s Fire & Rescue Services Jermaine Carelse. Courtesy of #DStv403
CAPE TOWN - Firefighters in Cape Town have been working tirelessly to contain the blaze on Table Mountain.
Strong winds which fanned the fires have died down considerably, giving the workers some respite.
Efforts are now focused on Deer Park and the Disa Park towers in Vredehoek.
The City s Fire & Rescue Services Jermaine Carelse said no homes are in immediate danger as firefighters have got everything under control for now.
He has urged the public to stay away from areas where crews are working, like Deer Park.
Disa Towers as the flames ripped through vegetation. Image: Supplied
Shannon and Tara McAuliffe are getting used to running for their lives and it’s a long run.
The last time a Table Mountain fire threatened their tall apartment tower at the top of Vredehoek they had to dash down several flights of stairs, anxious about their ailing father who was lagging behind.
Then on Monday morning the mountainside lit up again, and it was time to pack. Quickly. “These fires are not anything new, but it’s always just as scary,” Shannon told TimesLIVE on Monday while waiting to hear if it was safe to return to their home in Disa Towers, a group of three apartment blocks on the edge of Table Mountain National Park.
Cape Town fire latest: Residents can return home as damage is assessed
The impact of the devastating Cape Town fires is currently being assessed, with damage to several buildings and infrastructure reported.
With the Cape Town fire now declared under control, the time has come for the City and residents affected by the devastating blaze to assess the significant damage incurred over the past three days.
Evacuated residents and students from the University of Cape Town (UCT) are now being urged to begin returning to their homes and residences (the latter of which under the guidance of the university) and assessments have begun to determine the extent of the damage to infrastructure around the affected areas.
iAfrica Photo Credit: Twitter/@TableMountainNP
Share with your network!
Strong winds which fanned the fires have died down considerably, giving the workers some respite.
Efforts are now focused on Deer Park and the Disa Park towers in Vredehoek.
The City’s Fire & Rescue Services’ Jermaine Carelse said no homes are in immediate danger as firefighters have got everything under control for now.
He has urged the public to stay away from areas where crews are working, like Deer Park.