An elderly woman lost her life, and three others were injured when a house fire broke out on Wednesday on Edmundsbury Road in Belverdere, north of Durban.
Emergency services responded to reports of people trapped inside after the blaze erupted at 11:51 AM. According to Reaction Unit South Africa spokesperson Prem Balram, firefighters managed to extinguish the fire and rescue three occupants. However, the elderly woman was found deceased inside the residence.
A female victim sustained multiple burns, while two males were treated for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This incident follows another fatal house fire in Clayfield, Phoenix, last month, where two siblings lost their lives. KZN VIP Protection Services reported that the fire was believed to have been sparked by a cellphone explosion that ignited a couch. Despite rescue efforts, the flames spread rapidly, trapping the siblings.
Emergency responders battled thick smoke and intense heat to locate the victims. The female sibling was found first but succumbed despite CPR attempts, while her brother later died from severe burn injuries.
Authorities are continuing their investigations into both tragic fires.