Cape Town – Six people, including three children, died in a shack fire in the early hour of Thursday in Kamesh settlement near Kariega (Uitenhage) in the Eastern Cape.
The children were between the ages of 3 and 11 while the adults were between the ages of 22 and 48, police said in a statement.
The mother and father of the children sustained burn wounds to their hands and arms and were treated by paramedics at the scene.
The father, who also sustained burn wounds to his face, was taken to hospital, said police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu.
Naidu said police were alerted to the fire just after midnight.
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“On arrival, the shack was burnt to the ground. It is alleged it was load-shedding and the family went to sleep, leaving a candle burning. The mother woke up when the shack was burning. She and her husband managed to escape through a window. However, the remaining six people could not get out in time,” Naidu said.
Police have since opened an inquest docket and urged residents to be extra cautious when using alternative lighting during load-shedding.
“Candles, gas and primus stoves must be switched off before going to bed. The use of these types of lighting must be constantly checked to avoid situations such as this tragic incident,” said Naidu.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
