400 evacuated as fire breaks out at Table Mountain cable car station

A number of guests chose to walk down Platteklip Gorge to evacuate before the cable car was operational and were helped by SANParks rangers.

The SANParks ground crew also attended to wild fires on the lower slopes of Signal Hill, as well as the area above the upper block house on Devils Peak and at Kloofnek corner. No-one was present at these locations. All fires are now contained and mopping up operations are under way.

Cape Town City fire and rescue services said a bank of lithium batteries caught fire on Thursday afternoon.

“The fire has been extinguished, but staff remain on site to ensure that the batteries do not reignite, and that the area is safe,” spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said. 

TimesLIVE