[ad_1]
A fire ripped through parts of the densely populated informal settlement Thursday, destroying more than 1,000 homes.
Residents of Masiphumelele sift through the rubble after last night’s fire that destroyed around 1,000 homes. Image: Kevin Brandt / EWN
MASIPHUMELELE – With little more than a week to go until Christmas, thousands of Masiphumelele residents have lost everything.
A fire tore through parts of the densely populated informal settlement Thursday, destroying more than 1,000 homes.
READ ALSO: Fire destroys 1,000 homes in Masiphumelele, hundreds displaced
Miraculously, no one was injured or killed in the fire, but thousands lost all of their belongings.
# Let’s be successful residents checking debris after last night’s fire that destroyed around 1,000 homes @BrandtKev – KB pic.twitter.com/IvhMZ6U8ra
EWN reporter (@ EWN reporter) December 18, 2020
On Friday, most residents in the fire-ravaged part of Masiphumelele cleaned up the charred debris that used to be their homes.
But some were already rebuilding.
“We want to rebuild because there are too many people in the community room and it is difficult to socially distance ourselves due to COVID-19,” said a community member.
Thabiso Mangali said the fire took the houses of four of his relatives.
“We lost everything and our family has been affected,” he said.
# Let’s be successful Some residents have already started rebuilding their structures. KB pic.twitter.com/dek3KwtvZJ
EWN reporter (@ EWN reporter) December 18, 2020
Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato said the site would be cleared so reconstruction could begin in earnest.
“We need to clean up the site and that will start in the next hour or so. It will take about two days for the site to clear, ”Plato said.
LEE: Masiphumelele fire: hundreds rescue belongings among smoking rubble
The city of Cape Town was expected to provide material for fire victims to rebuild their homes.
At the same time, the surrounding communities came together to help replace some of what had been lost and provided food, clothing and household items to local church groups.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but is under investigation.
Download the EWN app on your iOS or Android device.
[ad_2]
