The Northern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance (COGTA) says raging veld fires that have spread from Kathu have left an unconfirmed number of people dead and others injured.
The fires have since spread close to the Lohatla Army Combat Training Centre.
Department spokesperson Tshenolo Meruti says the province has called for national intervention.
Meruti says, “Our disaster unit has escalated the matter to the head of the National Disaster Management Centre for their intervention. The South African National Defence Force activated their own choppers to extinguish the fire. The Fire Protection Association will work closely with them. We will monitor the situation and activate NDMC at their request if they require additional support.”
“We have sadly learned of casualties and severely injured. We will provide more information as it comes in.”
[Video Supplied] An unconfirmed number of people have died in a veld fire that spread from Kathu to the SA Army Combat Training Centre in Lohatla in the Northern Cape. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/o28OxnoARR
— NeriaHlakotsa (@neriahlakotsa) October 6, 2023