Kruger National Park Fire Claims 23 Lives
© Environment News Service (ENS) 2001
September 6, 2001
PRETORIA, South Africa, September 6, 2001 (ENS) - A deadly fire that devastated the Pretoriuskop area of the Kruger National Park over the past two days has been brought under control, South African National Parks officials have announced.
The number of deaths had risen to 23 Thursday morning. Most of the affected families have been contacted, and buses have been arranged to take family members to the morgues to identify their relatives.
Those who died were members from the surrounding community who had been contracted to help cut grass as part of normal park management practice, and were caught in the fire. Three South African National Parks rangers who were taking part in the rescue efforts are among those who lost their lives.
A 45,000 hectare (111,195 acre) area in the southwestern part of the park was scorched by the fire. The South African Air Force has allocated four helicopters to help extinguish any fires that might still be burning. One Spotter aircraft from the Forest Fire Association is also in the air assisting in the operation.
The Department of Labour has dispatched a team to the disaster area to carry out mandatory investigations. The South African Police Services are also investigating the matter to establish facts around the cause of the fire.
These investigations will be conducted independently of the investigation ordered by Murphy Morobe, chairman of the Board of South African National Parks Thursday. The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Valli Moosa, requested that the board institute an urgent inquiry into the incident.
Kruger National Park Director David Mabunda, is visiting with families of the victims. Condolences and offers of financial and other forms of assistance have been received from a diverse range of organizations and individuals. "Needs are enormous and more support will be appreciated," the parks agency said.