Forest Fire (9956 ha) in South Africa 23 Sep 2024

Event summary

This forest fire is expected to have a low humanitarian impact based on the burned area and the affected population and their vulnerability.

GDACS ID WF 1022424
Countries: South Africa
Start Date - Last detection*: 23 Sep 2024 - 28 Sep 2024
Duration (days): 5
People affected: 365 in the burned area
Burned area: 9956 ha
More Info: Global Wildfire Information System

*(Last detection of the thermal anomaly of the fire)

GDACS Score

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Detailed event map. European Union, 2026. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.


Impact Timeline

IDLevelScorePopulation AffectedBurned Area (ha)Last UpdateSource
1 0.5 354 9763 28 Sep 2024 14:00 GWIS
2 0.5 365 9956 28 Sep 2024 18:00 GWIS

Fires Joined

This event includes other close identified fires:

Exposed population

The forest fire happened in South Africa , Province of Mpumalanga (population 2,634,018) . The nearest places are Ermelo, Bethal, Middelburg, Witbank, and Standerton.



Radius Population
10 km 21000 people
5 km 8400 people
2 km <1000 people
1 km <1000 people
Burned Area <1000 people


Affected Provinces

Region Province Country Population
Mpumalanga South Africa 2.6 million people

Affected populated places

Name Region Province Country City class Population Distance
Ermelo Mpumalanga South Africa City 40000 people 22 km
Bethal Mpumalanga South Africa City 100000 people 38 km
Middelburg Mpumalanga South Africa City 150000 people 76 km
Witbank Mpumalanga South Africa City 260000 people 83 km
Standerton Mpumalanga South Africa City 73000 people 87 km

see full list

Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

Airports

Name IATA Code Elevation (m) Usage Runway type IFR Runway Length (ft) Distance
Ermelo 1737 Civ. Paved No 4200 20 km
Carolina 1654 Civ. Unpaved No 3100 40 km
Hendrina Power Station 1576 0 45 km
Holbank 1676 0 46 km
Arnot Power Station 1700 Priv. Paved No 3800 47 km
Hendrina 1576 Priv. Paved Yes 4900 48 km
Komati Power Station 1609 Priv. Paved No 2900 49 km
Kriel 1602 Priv. Paved No 3500 65 km
Tutuka Power Station 1631 Priv. Paved Yes 4900 67 km
Secunda ZEC 1600 Civ. Paved Yes 3600 69 km
Blesbokfontein 1600 0 69 km
Sace 1569 Civ. Paved No 4300 77 km
Majuba Power Station 1707 0 79 km
Amsterdam West 1341 0 82 km
Middelburg 1490 Civ. Unpaved No 5900 86 km
Witbank 1548 Priv. Paved No 4100 87 km
Standerton 1582 Civ. Unpaved No 3900 88 km

Ports

Dams

Reservoir Dam Name River Year Distance
Willem Brummer Klein-Kafferspruit n/a 14 km
Douglas Klein-Kafferspruit n/a 16 km
Vlakfontein Vaal 1936 22 km
Bethal Blesbokspruit 1951 37 km
Nooitgedacht Komati 1983 52 km
Van Dyksdrif Great Olifants 1948 63 km
Pienaar Vaalbank Spruit 1938 69 km
Middelburg Klein Olifants 1983 72 km
Jericho Mpama 1983 72 km
Phoenix Colliery Olifants 1960 73 km
Withbank Olifants 1983 75 km
Doornpoort Olifants 1951 78 km
Amersfoort Schulpspruit 1983 78 km
Morgenstond Ngwempisi 1980 80 km
Westoe Usutu 1980 80 km
Grootdraai Vaal 1978 81 km
Douglas Vaal 1977 86 km
Vygeboom Komati 1983 95 km
Heyshope Assegaai 1985 97 km

Nuclear plants

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.