Bush fires kill dozens in South Africa

Bush fires have killed at least 23 people in South Africa, an official has said.

The fires in KwaZulu-Natal province have affected 1,100 households, killed livestock and left swathes of crop and grazing land smouldering.

Lennox Mabaso, a spokesman for the local government ministry, said: "So far the official figure that we have at the disaster centre is 20 confirmed deaths, but the figures remain preliminary."

Fanned by hot, dry, windy conditions, the fires were believed to have been started either by "human negligence or human error", Mr Mabaso said.

The fires mostly hit the region to the north of the east coast city of Durban, with Inkandla town among the worst affected.

The region remains on alert during its fire warning season.

The fires also raged in the south eastern coastal area close to Richards Bay.

Tree plantations owned by Sappi Ltd, the world's number one maker of fine paper used in glossy magazines, were destroyed.

"This is one of the worst fire seasons we have ever had in this province, especially looking at the number of deaths," Mr Mabaso said.

He said the provincial government was providing shelter and food to hundreds of victims.

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