Ron Brackett
Residents of two suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa, were forced to flee their homes early Monday as strong winds fanned a wildfire burning on Table Mountain.
The fire, which began Sunday, had already damaged a restaurant in Table Mountain National Park and destroyed Mostert Mill, the oldest working windmill in South Africa, Times Live reported. It was built in 1796.
The wildfire also burned at least two floors in the Jagger Library at the University of Cape Town. The library housed the university's special collections, including more than 85,000 items on African studies, Times Live reported.
About 4,000 students were ordered to evacuate as the fire spread across the campus. Four buildings on the campus have been damaged or destroyed, Cape Town officials said, including a residence hall.
Students have been moved to at least nine hotels around the city, news24 reported.
At least four other buildings in the city were also damaged, the Independent Online reported.
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At least five firefighters have been injured while battling the blaze, Times Live reported Monday. Details on their conditions were not provided.
A local government official, Anton Bredell, said the wind had picked up strength overnight and caused the fire to spread. Residents of the Vredehoek suburb were told to leave their homes early Monday. Evacuations were also ordered in the Zonnebloem suburb.
“At the moment the wind is too strong and it is not safe to fly the helicopters. As soon as the weather permits, the air force will be in the air,” Bredell said.
Sustained winds have been over 20 mph with higher gusts Sunday into Monday, according to weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce. The winds are being fueled by a strong gradient between high pressure south of Africa and lower pressure to the north.
Officials at Table Mountain National Park said the wildfire is thought to have started when a homeless person left a fire unattended, according to Times Live.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
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