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Cape Town wildfire: Dramatic pictures reveal devastation as fire rips through mountains

Huge blaze rages through Table Mountain for third day
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Firemen battle a blaze near Cape Town

The true extent of the devastation caused by a wildfire ripping through Cape Town, South Africa, for a third day running has been revealed in dramatic pictures.

Emergency rescue workers say at least five homes have been destroyed and one firefighter was injured as the fire spread through Table Mountain.

An estimated 3,000 hectares of land have been destroyed, according to NBC News. 

Helicopters are dropping water on to the flames as workers struggle to extinguish the huge blaze, which has been exacerbated by temperatures of 40C (104F).

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A fire fighting aeroplane bombs water onto an indigeneous Fynbos vegetation fire raging in Clovelly, Cape Town

Residents in some areas have been forced to evacuate their homes.

The exact cause of the fire, which broke out in Muizenverg on Saturday, remains unclear, Eye Witness News reports.

Fire and Rescue member Theo Lane said the area affected has now significantly increased after a change in wind direction.

“The area affected by the change in wind direction is from Kalk Bay, all around the mountain towards the Hout Bay area and then on the opposite side towards Tokai," he said.

In pictures: Cape Town wildfire

In pictures: Cape Town wildfire

  • 1/30 South Africa

    A fire fanned by gale force south easterly winds started and has destroyed over 3000 hectares of land and some homes around the Cape Town south peninsula from Muizenberg to Hout Bay

  • 2/30 South Africa

    A fireman hoses down a burning house near Cape Town

  • 3/30 South Africa

    Firemen hose down smoldering logs in the Tokai Forest near Cape Town

  • 4/30 South Africa

    Firemen battle a blaze near Cape Town

  • 5/30 South Africa

    A gull flies over a fire burning through indigeneous Fynbos vegetation as it rages in Kalk Bay, Cape Town

  • 6/30 South Africa

    Trees burn in a fire in the Tokai forest, Cape Town

  • 7/30 South Africa

    Trees burn in a fire in the Tokai forest, Cape Town

  • 8/30 South Africa

    Residents in some areas were forced to evacuate. Rescue personel continue to battle the blaze

  • 9/30 South Africa

    A seal swims in Kalk Bay harbour as an indigeneous Fynbos vegetation fire rages on the mountains around Kalk Bay, Cape Town

  • 10/30 South Africa

    A fire fighting aeroplane bombs water onto an indigeneous Fynbos vegetation fire raging in Clovelly, Cape Town

  • 11/30 South Africa

    A fire fighter tackles a blaze raging in the Tokai forest in Cape Town

  • 12/30 South Africa

    Fire fighters tackle a blaze raging in the Tokai forest in Cape Town

  • 13/30 South Africa

    A fire rages in the Tokai forest, Cape Town

  • 14/30 South Africa

    Firefighters duck burning debris as they battle to control a bushfire in Cape Town's Tokai forest

  • 15/30 South Africa

    Firefighters are attempting to put out a series of fires fanned by hot conditions and strong winds across the Cape Peninsula

  • 16/30 South Africa

    Cape Town has seen the hottest day recorded in 100 years according to local weather service officials

  • 17/30 South Africa

    A helicopter drops water on a bushfire burning above Cape Town's Tokai forest

  • 18/30 South Africa

    Rescue personel battle a blaze in Noorhoek Manor old age home in Cape Town

  • 19/30 South Africa

    A couple, left, stand on the beach as they look at the fire, at Houtbay on the outskirts of the city of Cape Town

  • 20/30 South Africa

    Fire creates a glo behind a home in Houtbay on the outskirts of the city of Cape Town

  • 21/30 South Africa

    A helicopter drops water on a fire above Tokai Forest near, Cape Town

  • 22/30 South Africa

    A firefighter carries a hose across a burnt out section of a mountainside along Cape Town's scenic Chapman's Peak Drive

  • 23/30 South Africa

    A resident walks from a home with an approaching blaze in Noorhoek Manor retirement home in Noordhoek, Cape Town

  • 24/30 South Africa

    A bird flies through burning embers and smoke from a raging fire in Noordhoek, Cape Town

  • 25/30 South Africa

    A general view of a raging fire above homes in the Noordhoek Valley in Cape Town

  • 26/30 South Africa

    Rescue personnel cut through a fence to battle a baze aproaching Noordhoek Manor old age home in Cape Town

  • 27/30 South Africa

    A resident of Noordhoek uses a garden hose to extinguish a blaze aproaching his home in Cape Town

  • 28/30 South Africa

    A firefighter tries to stop a blaze in Noordhoek Manor old age home, Cape Town

  • 29/30 South Africa

    A paramedic searches for residents in Noordhoek Manor old age home as a fire approaches in Cape Town

  • 30/30 South Africa

    Rescue personnel evacuate old-aged pensioners from Noordhoek Manor old-age-home in Cape Town

The provincial government is planning to bring in 250 extra firefighters from other parts of the country, the South African Press Association reported. Thousands of acres of plants were also destroyed as the fire ripped through a national park.

However, Wednesday could see some reprieve as the first rain fell over the area. One resident said his entire office "erupted with cheers and whistles" when it started raining.

The Hout Bay Civic Association, a community organisation of residents affected by the fire, released a statement saying it was “humbled by the dedication” of firemen and firewomen.

Additional reporting by AP

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