[CPProt.net] South Africa: World heritage site gutted in North West fire

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

World heritage site gutted in North West fire 
October 05, 2005, 05:15 
   
 
Firefighting units and concerned farmers have been battling to extinguish an
out-of-control veld fire near the Vredefort Dome. North West rural
authorities said last night that the fire was still blazing in the Dome's
northern hills. The dome was recently declared a world heritage site.

Kobus Roux, the rural disaster manager in Potchefstroom, says a code red
situation has been declared in the region. Thousands of hectares have been
burnt and several farms gutted.

The fire started yesterday along the Potchefstroom-Vereeniging road after
electric wires were blown to the ground by strong winds. The winds of up to
60 km/h spread the flames.  

 South African Broadcasting Corporation.