South Africa evacuates small coastal communities near Cape Town as wildfires burn out of control

By GERALD IMRAY
Associated Press

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Residents have been evacuated from small coastal towns near Cape Town in South Africa as wildfires sweep down from surrounding mountains and burn out of control. Authorities ordered a full evacuation of Pringle Bay, a coastal village popular with holidaymakers. The fires began Monday and have been fueled by strong coastal winds and the hot, dry weather of the Southern Hemisphere summer. Wildfires are relatively common in the mountain ranges around Cape Town and further down the coast in summer, but it’s unusual for towns to be completely evacuated.