Three killed in shack fire

THREE people – a man and two women – burnt to death when a corrugated-iron shack in which they were sleeping caught fire during the early hours of Monday.

The incident happened at Mariental’s Aimablaagte residential area.The deceased are Sabin Gawises (45), Paul !Gaoseb (37) and a woman, only known as #Gui-os, who is a resident of Rehoboth’s Block E residential area. The Hardap Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner Kobus Meyer, says no foul play is suspected. He believes a short-circuit ignited the fire. The Police have opened an inquest docket. Meanwhile, the Mariental Police and members of the Directorate of Forestry yesterday afternoon managed to extinguish a fire that was raging in the mountainous Uibes area. It is suspected that a lighting strike had ignited the fire on Sunday night.According to Deputy Commissioner Meyer, the veld fire destroyed about 500 hectares of grazing. No deaths of human beings or animals were reported.Meyer applauded his officers for having contained the veld fire under difficult circumstances. He said eight vehicles were used to transport officers to the site to fight the fire. luqman@namibian.com.na