More than 500 people have now been rendered homeless following a devastating fire that ripped through the Imizamo Yethu and Masiphumelele informal settlements over the weekend.

The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre says preliminary reports indicate that about 100 structures were damaged in Imizamo Yethu.

The figures for Masiphumelele are still being assessed. Early Sunday morning, firefighters managed to extinguish both fires after being called out to Imizamo Yethu the previous day.

The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesperson, Sonica Lategan says the city’s informal settlements management, solid waste and electricity services are on site. The municipality’s water and sanitation department have also been activated to address damage to five toilets, standpipes and a burst water pipe.