Six firefighters have died battling a bushfire in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, with another two in critical condition, emergency services reported on Monday.
Authorities suspect that Sunday’s bushfire may have been ignited by poachers attempting to trap animals.
Three firefighters died at the scene near the town of Boston, approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) inland from Durban, said emergency services spokesperson Roland Robertson. Another three firefighters, initially treated and placed on ventilators, succumbed shortly after being admitted to the hospital.
Currently, one firefighter remains on a ventilator in the hospital, while another is in critical condition.
Robertson mentioned that some poachers were also believed to have been injured in the fires near private farms, which spread uncontrollably due to wind and dry conditions. No arrests of suspected poachers have been reported.
Wildfires have been burning in other parts of KwaZulu-Natal over the past week due to heat and wind, resulting in at least seven additional deaths across the province, according to local government reports.
Meanwhile, the western side of South Africa has been facing severe storms, with gale-force winds and flooding.
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A series of cold fronts from the Atlantic Ocean have caused extensive damage in Cape Town and nearby areas on the southwest tip of the country over the last 10 days. Around 15,000 people have been affected, with thousands of homes and other structures damaged or destroyed.
