Students flee devastating fires on slopes of Table Mountain

Several buildings at University of Cape Town, including Reading Room of historic Jagger Library, destroyed in blaze.

A fire on the slopes of South Africa’s Table Mountain has forced University of Cape Town students to flee their dormitories on foot as runaway flames set several buildings on campus ablaze and firefighters used helicopters to water-bomb the area in an attempt to put out the fire. The students ran along the main road as flames – fanned by strong winds – consumed the university’s historic library with its collection of rare books, and other campus buildings on Sunday. Cape Town’s mayor Dan Plato said at least one firefighter was being treated for burns in hospital.