ANAPIX: Mountain Fire Forces City Bowl residents to evacuate

By Henk Kruger Last updated Apr 19, 2021

A fire truck is parked next to a block of residential flats as firefighters fight off raging flames from the mountain fire. Vredehoek residents in Cape Town City Bowl began evacuating their homes early this morning as strong winds picked up at about 2am and kept fanning a fire that started last night. Picture Henk Kruger/African News Agency(ANA)

Cape Town, April 19 (ANA) Vredehoek residents in the City Bowl began evacuating their homes early this morning as strong winds picked up at about 2am and keep fanning a fire that started at about 8.45am yesterday and has razed iconic Cape Town landmarks.

A lady feeds her dog a snack inside her car as people were asked to leave their homes in Vredehoek in the early hours of this morning. Picture Henk Kruger/African News Agency(ANA)

City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Charlotte Powell confirmed that evacuations were under way, with Fire and Rescue vehicles on the scene as the wind speed is predicted to increase throughout the morning. In Vredehoek, Chelmsford Road and Pepper Tree Road have been closed as well as Tafelberg Road, said the City’s Traffic Services spokesperson, Maxine Bezuidenhout.