Knysna Fires: Mass Evacuations, 50 Houses & School Burning. Urgent Broadcast.

Eden District is burning out of control this evening in South Africa, after a day in which extremely strong winds fanned fires in the Western Cape and left at least three people dead. SAPeople follower Ester Beukes is on the scene and is one of those who has been evacuated. Apparently Knysna High School is one of the buildings burning.

This afternoon, Ester sent a photo showing the view from Knysna towards Brenton-on-Sea with “smoke as far as you can see…”

When we caught up with her this evening, Ester said: “Sad to say that we had to leave our area – Eastford Cove – as the whole valley started to burn and the hill above our house started to burn because of the terrible wind. (See above.)

“We are in town now: thick with smoke and and lorries parked in every street. People all around being evacuated to the Mall and open parking areas.

“I took the photo above when we evacuated. Eastford Glen is on fire – we live just behind from where the photo was taken. Knysna High School in town is burning now as well as the hill near Provincial Hospital.”

Eden District Municipality has issued the following “URGENT BROADCAST”:

“At 19:15 the Eden DMC received a call from the Acting MM of Knysna indicating that he needs to evacuate the entire town and National resources would be needed.

“This was communicated to the PDMC, unfortunately National resources cannot be deployed at this point in time, the activation of the SANDF (South African National Defence Force) could take a couple of days.

“Knysna has a population of about 77,000 people, they were advised to liaise with the George Municipality to obtain Go George buses to assist with evacuation of the town as soon as access to the Town was possible from the West.

“For the interim people are being moved by means of taxis and any possible transport to the Loerie Park area in the town.

“The areas currently being evacuated include the following:
· Brenton
· Belvedere
· Welbedacht
· Nania
· Eastford
· Green Pastures
· Knysna Heights

“The fire has split in two main fronts, one affecting the Knysna Heights and CBD area and the second the Belvedere and Brenton area.

“It is believed that in excess of 50 houses have burnt but this still needs to be confirmed.”