Authorities have confirmed that veld fires have ravaged property valued at nearly US$1 million and two human lives in a mere three months. The blazes, which began their destructive path at the start of the fire restriction season on 1 July, have left a trail of ruin, consuming everything from vital agricultural machinery and tourist lodges to private vehicles and family homes. In a tragic turn, the fires have also claimed two lives, with a staggering 582,922 hectares of land scorched across 1,792 separate incidents.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) provided these sobering figures, with Education and Publicity Manager Ms Amkela Sidange confirming the scale of the disaster. She stated,
“The cumulative loss from veld fires since the beginning of the fire season is estimated at US$932,000.”
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Two Lives And US$1 Million Worth Of Properties Lost To Veld Fires
Despite the alarming numbers, the agency revealed a surprising silver lining when comparing the data to the previous year. The current fire season has, in fact, seen a significant reduction in overall activity. Ms Sidange explained,
“In 2024, a total of 3,035 veld fire incidents affected 675,128.9 hectares. This represents a substantial reduction of 40.96 percent in the number of incidents and a 13.66 percent decrease in the area burnt in 2025.”
This positive trend was initially credited to kinder weather.
“The reduction is attributed to, among other possible drivers, increased residual moisture and green vegetation earlier in the season associated with the late rains received around April,” Sidange noted.
However, this period of relative calm proved to be tragically short-lived.
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EMA Warns Civilians Of The Danger Of Fires
A stark warning accompanies the data, as officials report a violent escalation in recent weeks. The weather has taken a dramatic turn, creating a perfect storm for uncontrollable infernos. Ms Sidange cautioned,
“The gradual increase in temperature, drying of vegetation and persistent windy weather being experienced since the beginning of August has fueled a drastic increase in veld fire outbreaks resulting in significant losses in biodiversity, property and life.”
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The post ‘Two Lives And US$1 Million Worth Of Properties Lost To Veld Fires Since July,’ EMA Reveals appeared first on iHarare News.
