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Pictures: Fire rages in Kya Sands informal settlement, S.Africa

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More than 700 shacks were destroyed after a massive fire swept across the Kya Sands informal settlement in Johannesburg South Africa, on October 9.

More than 700 shacks were destroyed after a massive fire swept across the Kya Sands informal settlement in Johannesburg South Africa, on October 9.

ZAR

According to the statistics by Judah Community Development church, close to 3 500 people were displaced and 3 children dead after the fire, said to have been caused by (izinyoka-nyoka) illegal connections from electricity power lines, ravaged through the area.

A woman weaves her way through the rubble carrying balancing luggage on her head that she managed to salvage from the fire that broke out and burnt down properties in Kya Sands informal settlement in Johannesburg, South Africa on October 9.
A woman weaves her way through the rubble carrying balancing luggage on her head that she managed to salvage from the fire that broke out and burnt down properties in Kya Sands informal settlement in Johannesburg, South Africa on October 9.

The residents, mostly from rural South Africa and illegal migrants from Mozambique and Zimbabwe who cannot afford proper housing due to lack of education and legal documents, lost all their property in the fire.

A man prepares to erect a new shack on the remains of his property the morning after a fire  burnt down over 700 shacks leaving 3500 people homeless in Kya Sands informal settlement, Johannesburg.
A man prepares to erect a new shack on the remains of his property the morning after a fire burnt down over 700 shacks leaving 3500 people homeless in Kya Sands informal settlement, Johannesburg.
A woman looks at remains of her home after the fire.
A woman looks at remains of her home after the fire.
A woman feeds her baby on the  remains of her property after the fire.
A woman feeds her baby on the remains of her property after the fire.
A man plays loud music on a solar powered radio while cleaning the remains of his property.
A man plays loud music on a solar powered radio while cleaning the remains of his property.

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A woman wakes up from the back of her husband's truck with the little goods she salvaged after the fire.
A woman wakes up from the back of her husband’s truck with the little goods she salvaged after the fire.
A woman and her two daughters took shelter in a tent provided by a local church, Judah Africa Community Development after their shack was razed by the  fire.
A woman and her two daughters took shelter in a tent provided by a local church, Judah Africa Community Development after their shack was razed by the fire.
A girl looks up anxiously as she waits for her turn to receive a food pack given by  Judah Africa Community Development church in Kya Sands informal settlement Johannesburg after a fire rended her family homeles.
A girl looks up anxiously as she waits for her turn to receive a food pack given by Judah Africa Community Development church in Kya Sands informal settlement Johannesburg after a fire rended her family homeles.

A timeline of shack fires in 2014

•January 25 A fire believed to have been sparked by either a candle or a parrafin stove razes 17 shacks to the ground in Kya Sand, Randburg.

•January 26 A 29 year old man is killed in a shack fire in Durban Deep, believed to have been started by fighting residents.

•June 10 A fire destroys 69 shacks in Alexandra township, leaving 150 people homeless.

•June 1 One person is burnt beyond recognition and five families are left homeless when a fire engulfs their homes in Zandspuit, north of Johnnesburg.

•August 24 A couple and a resident die in a blaze in Jeppestown.

•September 20 A man is burnt to death when his shack catches fire in Wynberg, Johannesburg. Two other shacks are destroyed.