Police in Cape Town have launched an investigation after six members of one family – including three minors – died in a shack fire in Khayelitsha over the weekend.

The victims died after their shacks were gutted by fire in Town 2 on Saturday the 29th of July.

The cause of the blaze is unknown at this stage.

City’s Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse says the firefighters were notified at approximately 01:20 of structures alight and a minor trapped inside in SST Section , Town 2 Khayelitsha, on Saturday.

“Crews from Lansdowne, Macassar and Mitchells Plain were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, several structures were burning and crews were informed of more than one person unaccounted for. Three minors and three adults, genders unknown, sustained fatal burn wounds. One adult male was rushed to hospital via ambulance as he received 3rd degree burn wounds and was in a critical condition. A total of five structures were destroyed and the fire was extinguished at approximately 02:30”.