Overview
- Firefighters report Kouga’s blazes have largely subsided with monitoring ongoing, and earlier evacuees in parts of the municipality have returned home.
- Overstrand’s Pearly Beach fire remains active and out of control with residents moved to a community hall, while crews also battle the Wemmershoek/Franschhoek blaze with aerial support from the South African Air Force.
- The South African Weather Service maintains red veldfire alerts for parts of the Eastern Cape and Western Cape due to very high fire danger.
- Authorities in Kouga report no fatalities to date, confirm damage to structures and power infrastructure, and warn of electricity and water supply risks, particularly in St Francis Bay.
- SANParks says a lightning-caused fire in the Keurbooms–Soetkraal area has burned about 10,000 hectares, with teams working to keep it within planned containment lines.