Five children lost their lives in a devastating shack fire in the Sonderwater informal settlement in Ikageng late on last night (July 19) marking the second fatal shack fire involving children in the area in less than two weeks, reports Potchefstroom Herald.

According to North West police spokesperson Colonel Adéle Myburgh, police in Ikageng are investigating an inquest after the bodies of three girls and two boys, aged between one and nine years old, were discovered inside a shack that had been completely destroyed by fire.

“The police responded to reports of a shack fire just before midnight. Upon arrival, officers found the structure completely engulfed and destroyed by flames. Emergency Medical Rescue Services certified all five children dead at the scene,” said Myburgh.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the children’s mothers, who are sisters, had allegedly left the children alone at home while visiting a nearby location. They were alerted by community members that the shack was on fire and rushed back to the scene.

According to Myburgh, the women, assisted by members of the community, attempted to extinguish the fire using buckets of water.

However, access challenges within the informal settlement severely hampered firefighting efforts.

Three of the deceased children, aged one, seven and nine, were the children of one sister, while the other two children, aged one and eight, belonged to the second sister.

The exact cause of the fire is still unknown.

Police are investigating the incident.

The tragedy comes less than two weeks after another devastating shack fire in the Hashtag informal settlement in Ikageng claimed the lives of four-month-old twin boys on July 6.

Myburgh urged residents to remain vigilant and take precautions to prevent house fires.

“Residents should never leave candles, paraffin stoves or open flames unattended, and children should never be left alone in homes where candles, heaters or cooking appliances are in use. People are also encouraged to keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children, avoid overloading electrical plugs and ensure heating appliances are used safely,” she said.

Acting North West Provincial Commissioner Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo also appealed to parents and caregivers not to leave children home alone under any circumstances.

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.