South African National Parks (SANParks) has confirmed that the Tsitsikamma shop within the Garden Route National Park (GRNP) in the Eastern Cape has burned down.
According to the GRNP General Manager, Vuyiswa Thabethe, the fire was noticed in the temporary shop structure in the park just after 5pm on Tuesday, September 22. Staff members, as well as the fire and rescue teams from the Mountain to Ocean Company and Koukamma Municipality managed to swiftly contain the fire; but the shop could not be saved.
‘We are grateful that no life was lost and no staff nor visitors sustained any injuries. We also extend our gratitude to the staff and emergency services team who contained the fire and prevented it from spreading to other structures,’ concluded Thabethe.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated and an update will be provided in due course.
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