By Lebohang Ndashe.
File Photo.
Six members of a family lost their lives when a shack caught fire in the Marikana Informal Settlement in Kwa Thema on the East Rand during the early hours of Monday morning.
A seven-year-old girl was the sole survivor and escaped the blaze with severe burn injuries. She was transported to the nearest hospital for further treatment.
According to the City of Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, the fire destroyed a home occupied by seven family members.
All were reportedly asleep when the fire erupted, trapping the family inside.
Emergency services were dispatched swiftly after receiving a call about the fire.
Upon arrival, they found the four-room shack engulfed in flames, while community members attempted to douse it.
“Firefighters extinguished the blaze. However, on search, rescue, and recovery, all six were found to have burnt intensively, and only one survived with critical burns,” said Ekurhuleni Emergency Service spokesperson William Tladi.
The six deceased family members were declared dead on the scene. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
SA Police Services (SAPS) are currently on site, conducting scene rehabilitation and overseeing the removal of the bodies to a forensic pathology facility.