A devastating bushfire in KwaZulu-Natal province has claimed the lives of six firefighters and left two others in critical condition.
Emergency services suspect the blaze, which erupted near the town of Boston on Sunday, may have been started deliberately by poachers.
According to Roland Robertson, an emergency services spokesperson, three firefighters perished at the scene while attempting to contain the inferno.
Sadly, three others succumbed to their injuries shortly after being hospitalized and placed on ventilators.
One firefighter remains on a ventilator, while another fights for their life in critical condition.
Authorities believe poachers may have been caught in the flames themselves as the fire, fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, spread rapidly.
While reports suggest injuries among poachers, no arrests have been made.
This tragedy comes amidst a period of severe weather across South Africa. KwaZulu-Natal has endured wildfires for the past week, resulting in at least seven additional fatalities.
Conversely, the country’s southwestern region, particularly Cape Town, has been battered by a series of storms bringing torrential rain and gale-force winds.
The storms have displaced roughly 15,000 people and caused widespread damage to property.
