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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At least 400 people were stranded on Table Mountain on Thursday afternoon after a blaze broke out at the lower cableway station.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The fire, which started inside the parking garage inside the lower cableway station on Tafelberg Road at about 1pm, was contained at about 4.45pm. Guests and staff were evacuated from the station and no injuries were reported. </span>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Cape Town - <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TableMountain?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TableMountain</a> Fire at the Lower Cable Car station - reports suggest Lithium battery fire <a href=\"https://t.co/EhFDwLOeMg\">pic.twitter.com/EhFDwLOeMg</a></p>\r\n— TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TrafficSA/status/1849441925717242104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 24, 2024</a></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The City of Cape Town fire department managed this structural fire while Table Mountain National Park fire crew supported in the surrounding vegetation,” said South African National Parks (SANParks) on Thursday evening. </span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-10-08-year-of-disasters-leaves-western-cape-with-multibillion-rand-shortfall/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Year of disasters leaves Western Cape with multibillion-rand shortfall</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SANParks said about 400 guests at the upper cable station atop Table Mountain were kept up there for a few hours, “initially due to the thick smoke” at the lower cable station. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2424941\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/AV_00028441.jpg\" alt=\"table mountain cable station blaze\" width=\"1842\" height=\"1117\" /> <em>A view from the top of Cape Town’s Table Mountain from the upper cable station. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Esa Alexander)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The backup power system has been activated and evacuation via cable cars has now commenced.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“A number of guests chose to walk down Platteklip Gorge to evacuate before the cable car was operational and were assisted on the trail by SANParks rangers,” said the organisation.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Cause unknown </b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) spokesperson Martin Slabbert said the cause of the fire was not yet known.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Lithium batteries that are used as backup energy sources for operating the cable cars caught fire, but the fire is now under control. Fire services are still on the scene (as at 3.45pm) to monitor for flare-ups and Tafelberg Road is still closed to traffic. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The cable cars are able to operate again, and we have started to bring the 400 people that were stuck at the top safely back down,” said Slabbert. </span>\r\n\r\n \r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Fire at Cable Lower Station at Table Mountain. Kloof Nek Rd & Tafelberg Rd entrance to Cable Station closed, use alternative route.</p>\r\n— City of CT Alerts (@CityofCTAlerts) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/CityofCTAlerts/status/1849456800887693736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 24, 2024</a></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-06-04-cape-of-storms-climate-researchers-explain-cape-towns-recent-extreme-weather/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">‘Cape of Storms’ – climate researchers explain Cape Town’s recent extreme weather</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“No injuries were reported today. We thank all visitors and members of the public for their understanding as we worked with authorities to bring the fire under control,” said Wahida Parker, managing director of the TMACC. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We also express our sincere thanks and appreciation to all the roleplayers and stakeholders who helped in responding to the fire — Cape Town fire services, Cape Town Tourism, Table Mountain National Park, traffic services and all our other partners.” </span><b>DM</b>",
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A view from the top of Cape Town’s Table Mountain from the upper cable station. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Esa Alexander)