Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

Ten people – including six children – from three South African families have died when the wood lodge they were holidaying in went up in flames.

The family members died in a fire at the luxurious Blinkwater Lodge in Witdraai in the South African province of Northern Cape on 16th August while a 10th victim was confirmed dead on 18th August.

The deceased belonged to three families from Ceres in the Western Cape, the Carstens, Bauer and Davin families.

The police said they received a call at around 1.20am on Sunday morning when the wood lodge was already ablaze.

The cause of the fire is still unknown and an investigation is underway.

A 10th victim was confirmed on 18th August, identified as Frans Davin.

The previous nine victims were named as Dane Carstens, 36, and her two sons Pierre-Johan, 5, and Magiel, 3, while her husband Hendri, 39, was airlifted to hospital but later died of injuries.

Stefan Bauer, 39, and his two daughters Inge, 7, and Elre, 4, died while his 36-year-old wife Madelein survived the blaze.

Children Frans-Jan, 5, and Iza Davin, 3, died in the blaze while their father Frans was confirmed as the 10th victim today. He had previously been admitted to ICU in a serious condition.

The children’s 37-year-old mother Wilmien and her 15-month-old baby Ben both survived.

Of the six adults and seven children who went on holiday together, only two adults and one minor have survived.

The tragic blaze is still under investigation.

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