Mountain ablaze above Cape Town
Mountain ablaze above Cape Town
26 January 2006
published by news.bbc.co.uk
South Africa — An elderly woman tourist from the UK has been killed in South Africa in a bush fire raging out of control on Cape Town’s landmark Table Mountain.
The flames are being fanned by strong winds. Thick smoke has engulfed the centre of the city as the fire spreads rapidly across the lower slopes.
More than 150 firefighters are struggling to fight the blaze, which is threatening residential areas nearby.
A British man has been arrested in connection with starting the fire.
He is due to appear in court in Cape Town on Friday morning.
Helicopters dropping water have been hampered by the winds and poor visibility.
The Table Mountain cable car has been closed and people living nearby have been fleeing their homes as the flames advance.
A number of houses are reported to have caught fire.
This is the latest in a series of bush fires caused by dry conditions in the Cape Town area in recent weeks.
