Wildfire on Table Mountain Contained, Evacuations Underway

Emergency personnel are currently responding to a wildfire on Table Mountain in Cape Town. The fire has spread from Tafelberg Road up to Platteklip Gorge. As a result, authorities have evacuated the upper and lower stations of the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway and advised hikers to evacuate from Platteklip Gorge and surrounding areas.

Efforts are underway to extinguish the fire, and emergency services will remain in place until it is fully contained. Additional road closures in the area may be implemented to facilitate the fire response. Further evacuations of tourists and hikers are possible as the situation unfolds.

Authorities are urging people to heed their directives and seek updated information on road conditions if driving in the affected area. Congestion and delays are expected due to road closures and detours. Individuals in the impact area are advised to stay inside well-ventilated, air-conditioned spaces to minimize exposure to smoke. It is particularly important for individuals with chronic respiratory illnesses to take precautions, as they may be more susceptible to the negative effects of smoke inhalation. Eye irritation is also a possibility, and if it occurs, it is recommended to flush irritated eyes with clean water.

Aerial resources have been deployed to water bomb the area, and the swift action of firefighters from the city, as well as crews from TMNP (Table Mountain National Park) and NCC (National Conservation Corporation), prevented the fire from spreading to the Camps Bay side of the mountain. All individuals on the mountain were safely evacuated, either by cable car or through Platteklip Gorge.

The fire at Tafelberg Road has led to the evacuation of guests in the vicinity. Aerial support is being utilized in the firefighting efforts. The situation is being closely monitored, and additional resources are being deployed to control and extinguish the blaze. Tafelberg Road has been closed off to the public to ensure unobstructed access for emergency vehicles.