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Raging fires in Kouga are prompting urgent evacuation orders and road closures
Kouga municipality fire services in the Eastern Cape have ordered an immediate evacuation of Linderhof residents as a safety measure, following flare ups near Oyster bay.
BREAKING NEWS: Kouga municipality fire services in the Eastern Cape have ordered an immediate evacuation of Linderhof residents as a safety measure, following flare ups near Oyster Bay. For more visit pic.twitter.com/iexjWtp1UN
— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 10, 2026
The wind speed has picked up causing more flare ups near Oyster Bay. However, most fire fronts are under control and helicopters are assisting to extinguish the flames in the Kouga area.
Flare ups have been spotted in the Nelson Mandela Bay area as well.
Kouga Mayor Hattingh Bornman explains, “Fires in Kouga municipality at the moment in most areas is because wind flared up again the biggest concern at the moment is in oyster the road between St Francis Bay and Oyster bay where a lot of are fighters are underground we got three planes working in the air but struggling to get control of the fire a small area called Linderhof has been asked to evacuate for safety reasons at this stage no other reasons has been asked for any evacuation so only a small area close to Oyster Bay”
WATCH | Garden Route authorities are monitoring wildfires closely as winds pick up across the region. SABC News reporter Mkhokheli Bandla has more. pic.twitter.com/94GumddSHM
— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 10, 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ1KrfC3Ch0
Trail of destruction
The fires have left a trail of destruction across farmlands in both the Western and Eastern Cape, prompting emergency services to maintain heightened readiness as weather conditions remain unpredictable.
Garden Route District Fire Chief, Deon Stoffels, says the strong winds continuing to blow across the region pose the biggest threat, with the risk of flare-ups still very real.
This follows a coordinated, multi-agency firefighting effort during the week, which saw the deployment of extensive aerial resources to support ground crews battling the flames.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CVp6hyCnWo
