Six family members have lost their lives after a fire broke out and scorched their shack in the Marikana Informal Settlement in Kwa Thema on the East Rand during the early hours of Monday morning, just hours after Africa Day on 25 May.
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A seven-year-old girl was the sole survivor but has suffered severe burn injuries to her body. After being rescued, the girl was transported to the nearest hospital for further treatment. According to the City of Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, the fire destroyed a home occupied by seven family members to ashes while they were asleep. When the fire erupted, the family was trapped inside the shack and could not escape.
Firefighters were dispatched and upon arrival, found the four-room shack burning while community members attempted to assist. “Firefighters extinguished the blaze. However, on search, rescue, and recovery, all six were found to have burnt intensively, and only one survived with critical burns,” said Ekurhuleni Emergency Service spokesperson William Nhlathi. The six family members were declared dead on the scene while the girl was rushed to a nearby hospital. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and police have conducted a scene rehabilitation and removal of the bodies to a forensic pathology facility.
Bongi Sikelo 