Fires in Cape Town destroy several informal settlements

According to reports on 9 December 2008, fires in Cape Town have destroyed several informal settlements in recent days. So far, three people have been killed and hundreds of homes have been destroyed in the blazes. Firefighters are continuing to battle fires that have hit 11 informal settlements and an unnamed holiday resort. Fires have also been reported in Table Mountain National Park and Gordon's Bay. The South African Weather Service reported that the fires are being fanned by strong winds and dry conditions, which are common during Cape Town's summer months. The weather service also indicated that the current weather conditions are unlikely to change within the next 24 hours, which will likely hamper the efforts of firefighters and increases the probability of new fires.