Death toll rises to seven in Garden Route fires

Seven people have died in the runaway fires that have caused destruction in various towns, including Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.

The runaway fires in the Eden region have claimed their seventh life.

The thirty-year-old Enala Manda succumbed to burn wounds at the Tygerberg Hospital on Saturday night.

The Malawian mother's three-year-old child was also killed during the week by the deadly fires.

#KnysnaFire Her 3-year-old daughter was confirmed dead on Wednesday – she too lost her life in the firestorm. KB

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) June 11, 2017

Read: #KnysnaFire: Residents, animals evacuated from Buffalo Bay area

On Saturday, volunteer firefighter and 63-year-old John Blaauw also lost his life due to severe burn wounds sustained while fighting the fire

He is the second firefighter to have died this week, reports EWN's Kevin Brandt.

There are currently over 1,000 firefighters battling blazes which started on Tuesday in Knysna and spread to surrounding areas.

Also read: How to get help for wounded wildlife and other animals #KnysnaFire

Authorities closed the N2 at the Buffalo Bay intersection and as well as two kilometers outside George.

Runaway fires have ravaged the garden route area and over 400 homes have been gutted so far in Knysna.

Take a listen to the EWN update: