KNYSNA NEWS - The fires which devastated huge areas of prime real estate and also informal dwellings last night, is still burning in places.
A helicopter has just flown over the Knysna-Plett Herald offices in Spring Street and seems to be flying over the hill towards White Location.
The sky is still thick with smoke and it is dim, so it is impossible to say if it is dropping water bombs.
The South African Defence Force is expected in the town soon to help all the local fire-fighting teams who have battled since early yesterday morning, Wednesday June 7.
What can be said at this time is that the central business district of Knysna seems to have only suffered wind storm damage.
A quick look at Upper Town would indicate that the fires did not reach homes, but higher up on the hill they may have been burnt.
Damage we do know of is in Belvidere, Knysna Heights, Brenton-on-Lake, Pezula. Reports of schools burnt down has not yet been confirmed.
White Location lost many, many houses – there is no official tally yet.
Charlene Cox, Knysna-Plett Herald sales executive, is still not sure if her house is standing as it was in Knysna Heights.
Stefan Goosen, journalist, is beyond himself with relief because the fire in Rheenendal last night almost took his house. Somehow it has managed to stand in an area that has been badly hit.
Boniswa Zwayena of the Knysna-Plett Herald is safe, but said she was evacuated last night. “A loud hailer at about 23:00 warned us to go to nearby creches and churches.”
Zwayena ran for shelter at Dam-se-Bos which was not affected.
Zirk Jansen, sales executive of the Knysna-Plett Herald is safe.
Nosi Bontiya who helps at the Knysna-Plett Herald is safe because she lives in Dam-se-Bos.
It has just started drizzling.
At this time the Knysna fire chief, Clinton Manuel, was not available for comment. His last words at midnight on Wednesday, June 7, were “our team is dead beat. Exhausted, but carrying on the best we can.”
Spokesperson for the Knysna municipality, Fran Kirsten, is also not available for comment yet, but she has also been working since the early hours of Tuesday morning.
More information to follow as it becomes available.
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