CAPE TOWN – Nine family members were killed and four were seriously injured in a fire in in Eastridge, Mitchells Plain on Saturday morning. Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services responded to the call for assistance at about 8.30am.
Western Cape SAPS cluster spokesperson, Captain Frederick van Wyk confirmed that the victims were related. Two men, three girls (including an infant, age unknown) and three boys, aged between seven and 13, were declared dead on the scene.
Fire and Rescue spokesperson Liesl Moody said that five people were transported to hospital with serious injuries for further medical treatment.
An inquest into the cause of the fire will be opened by the SAPS, Van Wyk said.
A sad morning out in Eastridge Mitchells Plain as community gathers outside a house where 9 people died in a fire pic.twitter.com/LVwkGmaZt1
— Athi Mtongana (@Artii_M) June 11, 2016
9 people (including minors) died this morning after this house in Mitchells Plain burnt down @enca pic.twitter.com/a3zvgFeb0t
— Athi Mtongana (@Artii_M) June 11, 2016