Image copyright Sphiwe Hobasi/@MrCow_man Image caption Some 150 properties have been ablaze in the popular tourist town

Up to 10,000 people have been evacuated from a scenic coastal town in South Africa that has been devastated by wildfires, officials have said.

Military equipment was being deployed to douse more than 25 fires in Knysna, they added.

At least eight people have been killed in the storms and fires that have been raging in the town and other areas of the Western Cape region.

Strong winds from the worst winter storm in 30 years fuelled the fires.

At least 150 properties have been destroyed in Knysna, according to the fire service.

The town has a population of 77,000. It lies 500km (310 miles) east of Cape Town on South Africa's famed Garden Route.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Knysna is on a popular tourist trail

"Humanitarian support is being co-ordinated for an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 residents of the Greater Knysna area, after devastating fires," said James-Brent Styan, spokesman for the Western Cape local government ministry.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) would assist in a water-bombing operation to extinguish the fires, its spokesman Simphiwe Dlamini said.

About 150 troops would also be deployed to make sure that criminals do not loot properties that have been vacated, he added.

In May, the Western Cape province declared a drought disaster after two reservoirs had completely dried up. It was said to have been the region's worst drought in more than a century.

Several other southern African nations were also affected by the two-year drought, which was caused by the El Nino climate phenomenon.

However, many parts of the region are now experiencing bumper maize harvests.</s>Up to 10,000 people in the South African coastal resort of Knysna have been evacuated as wildfires fanned by strong winds ripped through the town, destroying homes and other properties, officials said.

Eight people have been killed, three of them in the Knysna area, as the worst storm to hit Cape Town in three decades made landfall late on Tuesday before hurtling eastwards along what is known as South Africa's "Garden Route".

"Humanitarian support is being co-ordinated for an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 residents of the greater Knysna area, after devastating fires last night," said James-Brent Styan, spokesman for the Western Cape local government ministry.

The bush wildfires, driven by winds in excess of 50km/h, destroyed property in 20 suburbs as buses were sent to evacuate trapped residents of the tourist town, renowned for its oysters and rugged coastal scenery.

According to the South African Weather Service, 37mm of rain fell at Cape Town airport. Other areas recorded as much as 131mm of rain.

Thousands of people in shantytowns, who have had to cope with the region's worst drought in a century, have been hardest hit, as floods and heavy rain washed away homes built of planks and zinc sheets.</s>At least eight people have been killed and thousands displaced in the South African city of Cape Town after the worst storm in three decades unleashed heavy rains and high winds.

The storm, which hit on Tuesday and Wednesday, fanned fires and forced evacuations of some residents who were already having to cope with the region's worst drought in a century.

In Cape Town and surrounding areas, victims included four people who died in a fire caused by lightning, three who died in another fire and one who was killed when a home collapsed, disaster management officials said.

"This wind is blowing very, very strong, causing the fire to spread extremely rapidly," Clinton Manuel, the fire chief of Knysna, a town east of Cape Town, told African News Agency.

Eleanore Bouw-Spies, Knysna's mayor, described the fires as the worst in decades.

Additional firefighters have been sent to the town on Thursday as fires continued to rage, officials said.

James Styan, a spokesman for the Western Cape local government, said between 8,000 and 10,000 people had been evacuated from their homes due to the fires.

He added that officials were "cautiously optimistic that no further evacuations" would be needed in the area.

The "mother of all storms", as it has been called by local media, hit more two weeks after a drought disaster was declared in the area.

'I'm scared to stay'

Al Jazeera's Malcolm Webb, reporting from Cape Town, said the problem "isn't simply because of the weather, but also because of the poor state of housing of so many people living in the area".

Thousands of people have been left homeless, according to Western Cape officials, with the millions living in shanty towns the hardest hit. Many had already been displaced in March when their homes burned down owing to a period of prolonged drought.

"I'm scared to stay in my house because of wind," Cape Town resident Unati Sigcau told Al Jazeera.

"Also the rain, that's why I moved here with my child. We're scared to stay in my shack," she added from a shelter in Cape Town.

On social media, #CapeStorm and #KnysnaFire trended in the country, with many sharing photos and video of the storm, as well as urging residents to aid those who have been displaced.

Any donations to make soup and take it to an informal settlement in Cape Town is needed pls DM me. #CapeStorm — Nakita Matthews (@___AzanianQueen) June 7, 2017

Thoughts&prayers; to families &people; of #Knysna as they are evacuated due to raging #KnysnaFire ~ God Bless emergency service staff 🙏 pic.twitter.com/MHbOSa5suH — C Constantinides (@ChangeAgentSA) June 7, 2017

The storm also forced President Jacob Zuma, who was in the city, to cancel a scheduled speech at an international media conference in Durban, a city on the Indian Ocean coastline, his office said.

The South African military said it had placed a helicopter on standby to help with any emergency evacuations in Western Cape province, which includes Cape Town.

Schools were also closed on Wednesday owing to the storm.

The South African Weather Service said high winds were expected in the region into Thursday.

While the storm provided some relief for a severe drought, officials said sustained rainfall over several years is needed in a city whose reservoirs are at low levels.

Cape Town recently announced restrictions on water use.

On Wednesday, authorities urged residents to capture rain from the storm in containers for flushing toilets and other needs.</s>JOHANNESBURG - Three-year-old Michael Johnston died while he and his parents were trying to flee the Knysna fires on Wednesday.

It was his birthday.

His parents, experienced mountaineers Madre and Tony Johnston, also perished in the blaze.

Lunice Johnston, a relative, said the Johnston's home was located in a remote area, which could have made it difficult for them to reach help.

"I'm sure Tony and Madre did everything possible to get out of the fire... It was quite remote [the house] although there were other homes around them. The road leading to the house was quite narrow and you could not easily get to them with a normal vehicle," Lunice told eNCA on Thursday afternoon.

Tony's first cousin said the couple chose to live in the forest to be one with nature.

The family found out about the tragedy when the toddler's grandparents drove from Uitenhage to wish him a happy birthday.

"When my aunt couldn't get a hold of Tony, they decided to get into the car and drive there. They were informed of the tragic event when they got near the property," Lunice said.

Michael was such "a lovely, happy little boy... I suppose that Madre would have baked a cake and made a party for him. [It is terrible] that this tragic, sad event... unfolded."

*Watch the video above for the full interview with Johnston.</s>JOHANNESBURG — A storm pummeled the coastline around Cape Town on Wednesday, unleashing heavy rains and high winds that fanned fires and forced evacuations. At least eight people were killed.

Many people in Knysna, a town on the scenic Garden Route east of Cape Town, fled as blazes tore through homes. An evacuated hospital was among the buildings that caught fire, and the main highway was closed, South African news outlets reported.

Clinton Manuel, Knysna’s fire chief, said his teams were struggling to contain the flames. “This wind is blowing very, very strong, causing the fire to spread extremely rapidly,” he said, according to the African News Agency.

The town’s mayor, Eleanore Bouw-Spies, described the fires as the worst in decades.

In and around Cape Town, four people died in a fire caused by lightning, three in another fire and one when a home collapsed, disaster management officials said.</s>At least nine people have been killed and thousands forced from their homes as Cape Town and surrounding areas were hit by the worst winter storm in 30 years. Millions of people living in shanty towns, who have previously had to cope with the region's worst drought in a century, have been hardest hit, with floods and heavy rain washing away homes built of planks and corrugated zinc sheets.

Victims included four people who died in a fire caused by lightning, three who died in another fire and one who was killed when a home collapsed. The storm is expected to dump more than two inches (50mm) of rain in some areas and trigger waves of up to 12 metres, the South African Weather Service said.

Strong winds are fanning multiple fires, which destroyed dozens of homes and also damaged an evacuated hospital and a school.

Officials say about 10,000 people were evacuated from a scenic coastal town that has been devastated by fast-moving fires.

Over two dozen fires were reported in the area, which are home to dense forests, providing plenty of fuel for the spread of wild fires.

Local media reported that the military plans to help emergency responders in Knysna, which lies on the Garden Route, a popular tourist destination on the southern coast. The town's mayor, Eleanore Bouw-Spies, said the fires were the worst in the region in decades.</s>South African officials say about 10,000 people were evacuated from a scenic coastal town that has been devastated by fast-moving fires.

Local media reported Thursday that the military plans to help emergency responders in Knysna, which lies on the Garden Route, a popular tourist destination on the southern coast of South Africa.

Strong winds from a storm that hit the coastline on Wednesday were fanning multiple blazes, which destroyed dozens of homes and also damaged an evacuated hospital and a school.

The storm killed eight people, including three who died in a fire in Knysna, and dumped heavy rain on Cape Town, west of Knysna.

While Cape Town and surrounding areas have been suffering a severe drought, the rain was not expected to bring long-lasting relief.</s>About 10,000 people have been evacuated from a scenic coastal town in South Africa that has been devastated by fast-moving fires.

The military is reportedly planning to help emergency responders in Knysna, which lies on the Garden Route, a popular tourist destination on the southern coast of South Africa.

Strong winds from a storm that hit the coastline on Wednesday were fanning multiple blazes, which destroyed dozens of homes and also damaged an evacuated hospital and a school.

The storm killed eight people, including three who died in a fire in Knysna, and dumped heavy rain on Cape Town, west of Knysna.

While Cape Town and surrounding areas have been suffering a severe drought, the rain was not expected to bring long-lasting relief.

A car is washed over by a huge wave that slammed into the promenade during heavy storms in the Sea Point neighborhood of Cape Town. Picture: AP</s>A fire swept through the town of Knysna, killing three people while Cape Town suffered its worst storm in 30 years.

South African officials have said that around 10,000 were evacuated and the military have been called in to help with the emergency in the popular tourist destination on the southern coast of the country.

Strong winds from a storm that hit the coastline on Wednesday were fanning multiple blazes, which destroyed dozens of homes and also damaged an evacuated hospital and a school.</s>Up to ten thousand people were evacuated from their homes as fires continued to ravage South Africa's Western Cape region on Thursday, fanned by a ferocious winter storm.

Knysna, a town of 77,000 people 500 kilometres (310 miles) east of Cape Town on South Africa's famed Garden Route, was worst hit as firefighters battled to quell 26 fires along the tourist trail.

High winds from a storm that claimed eight lives as it battered the Western Cape region have caused the blaze to spread rapidly.

The storm, which struck on Tuesday, has damaged buildings, felled trees, left 46,000 homes without electricity and caused travel chaos as flights and rail services were hit by gale-force winds and flooding.

Colin Deiner, the chief director of the Western Cape's fire service, told Voice of the Cape radio that at least 150 structures had been destroyed.

Local officials are now considering calling on the air force to help extinguish the blazes.

Western Cape premier Helen Zille told Kaya FM: "What we need is air power -- water-bombing, and helicopters to see which areas are affected and who needs to be evacuated."

Zille has been suspended from her party -- the main opposition Democratic Alliance -- over tweets apparently endorsing colonialism, but remains head of the regional government. She spent the night in Knysna to coordinate the response of emergency services to the crisis.

"The fire in Knysna is the largest and most destructive fire in a built up area in the Western Cape in recent memory with thousands displaced. It comes on the back of the worst storm seen in the Western Cape in at least thirty years," said Western Cape government spokesman James-Brent Styan in a statement. "To date between 8,000 and 10,000 Knysna inhabitants have been safely evacuated."
Up to 10,000 people have been evacuated from Knysna Local Municipality on Garden Route in South Africa after wildfire destroyed 150 homes. The Wildfire is connected to the worst windstorm in 30 years, which already killed at least 8 people in Cape Town.