South Africa Assesses Damage From Wildfires

South African official officials are yet to assess the damage caused to property from the ongoing wildfires in Cape Town, which started on Sunday.



"In the next three to four days, we shall do assessment to the damage caused and cost of operation," JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security in Cape Town told The Anadolu Agency Thursday.



He said forensic investigations were underway to determine the actual cause of the fire, as some people had suggested that it could have been arson.



"Thirteen structures have been damaged, and three homes completely destroyed," he said.



Smith said that about 500 people had been evacuated from their homes in fears that fires could trap them but most of them have since returned home.



Zolile Nqayi, spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Affairs, said that 95 percent of the fires had been contained.



"But there are still some areas where there are flames and smoke," Nqayi told AA.



Multiple fires engulfed parts of the Cape Town South Peninsula for the past four days, destroying property, plantations and several hectors of vegetation.



According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, some 2,000 people, four helicopters, two water bombers and one spotter were helping to quell the fires.



The Department also said a total of 26 aircraft which includes 11 helicopters, 6 fixed wing bombers, and 9 spotters have been deployed to fight the wildfires.



-Minimal impact-



Alan Winde, the Minister of Economic Opportunities in the Western Cape Provincial Government, said the wildfires have had a minimal impact on tourism in Cape Town, one of the world's best tourism destinations.



"Now fires have been minimized and people are back to business," he told AA by phone.



He said apart from the burning down of a resort Lodge and closures of some tourist attractions for two or three days, the tourism industry has not been affected much.



"I am pleased that the majority of our tourism establishments are open for business and operating as per normal," he added.



Winde said the peninsula's wine farms experienced damage to vines but managed to prevent any large-scale harm to infrastructure.



According to Winde, tourism contributes 18 billion Rand to the Western Cape region annually and employs over 200 000 residents.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Gauteng