Six firefighters died after being trapped by a runaway wildfire in eastern South Africa, authorities said on July 15, taking to 14 the number of lives lost in just over a week of blazes in KwaZulu-Natal province, Report informs referring to AFP.
Three female firefighters were killed on Sunday when they became trapped in the fire believed to have been started by poachers around 40 kilometres (24 miles) from the city of Pietermaritzberg, authorities said.
Three others died later in hospital, uMngeni municipality mayor Chris Pappas said. One more was fighting for his life in hospital.
The wildfire is believed to have been started by poachers who use flames to drive out animals, Pappas told journalists.
The six who lost their lives were from a private group contracted by Sappi Forests for firefighting and forestry services, the company said.