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A house has been destroyed by the fire in Aalwyndal, January 7, 2026.
The Mossel Bay Municipality in the Western Cape says several structures and vehicles have been destroyed following a vegetation fire.
Emergency personnel conducted evacuations throughout the night in the Aalwyndal area after the fire spread to a residential area.
The evacuation notices were also issued for residents of Island View and Vakansieplaas.
Traffic authorities closed several roads in the area.
A Joint Operations Centre has been activated to coordinate firefighting and evacuation efforts.
— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 7, 2026
Meanwhile, a resident of Mossel Bay has described the fire as devastating.
There is no confirmation yet on whether any lives have been lost and how many homes have been destroyed.
Shane Jensen, who was evacuated from his Island View home but returned when it was safe, says: “The devastation is unbelievable. Vakansieplaas, which is a sort of a complex, massively badly burnt. At the top of the mountain a lot of houses on fire and it’s burning badly in the valley on the way to the N2 at the moment. But guys are working around the clock. It’s absolutely devastating.”
VIDEO | Residents evacuated following fire in Mossel Bay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz-ikXU5Jmk
