Three people died in an early morning fire in Masiphumelele, on Saturday.

The City's Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said firefighters were alerted just after 2am that structures were burning in Sobukwe Road. They found the bodies of the 2 men and a woman, who had sustained fatal burn wounds, among the debris around 5am.

''Crews from Kommetjie fire station were the first to be dispatched and from a distance could see the raging flames and immediately called for additional support. In total there were 6 fire engines and 3 water tankers on the scene as well as more than 40 staff.''

''By 5.45am firefighters had managed to contain and extinguish the fire which had destroyed several informal structures, leaving a number of people displaced,'' he added.

Carelse said the cause of the fire is unknown and the scene was handed over to the South African Police Service.

PICTURE: CoCT

Done By: Mitchum George