Farm worker admitted to hospital following veld fire

A farm worker has been admitted to hospital after sustaining burn wounds during an attempt to put out fire in one of the farms in Swartruggens, in the North West.

A veld fire has destroyed more than 10 000 hectares of farmland stretching from Swartruggens up to areas around Koster yesterday. Grazing land has been destroyed, leaving stock and game farmers stranded.

The cause of the fire is not yet known but it is believed to have started on the west of Swartruggens on the Leeufontein-Enkelbos farms before being driven by south-easterly winds towards Koster and beyond.

Farmers and their employees battled until late into the night to put the fire out. Traffic on the N4 between Swartruggens and Koster was disrupted by the smoke from the fire. A preliminary report on the damage is expected to be released by Koster Disaster management later today.