Richards Bay factory fire expected to burn for days
The fire that has been burning in Richards Bay is now also being fought aerially.
Choppers are in the sky, waterbombing the flames which started at a wood chip factory on Saturday.
Umhlathuze Mayor Xolani Ngwezi says almost two thousand litres of water have already been dropped.
Ngwezi says they expect the fire to continue burning for a few more days.
"We are trying to make sure we contain the fire so that it doesn't go to other nearby companies which do especially the same work, and here we are talking about TWK that is close by also FOSCO.
READ: Probe into Richards Bay woodchip mill fire
"And we know that once the fire goes to these two, we have a problem now of saving more industries."
Dave Savides, a local reporter and resident of Arboretum, says the blaze has severely affected his community.
"We were at the worst part, that we were on the lookout all the time because some of the burning ambers of woodchips are very light and strong wood. Some of them travel 5 kilometres. People find them in yards in the suburbs 5 kilometres from where the fire is.”
