Three people died on Wednesday evening in a fire in Hout Bay, Cape Town, city emergency management services said.

Spokesperson Theo Layne told News24 three wooden structures were destroyed by the fire, with 15 to 17 people displaced.

“One adult male, one adult female and one unknown person, who could not be identified due to the extent of their burn wounds, died,” he said.

Emergency services were notified of the fire at 20:36, which occurred by Main Road in Hout Bay near the police station.

“The investigation has been taken over by police,” he said.

On Monday, a group of seven men were arrested for public violence in Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay.

The group was arrested after a number of community members fled to the Hout Bay police station to seek assistance during protests in the area, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Andre Traut said earlier this week.

According to reports, Imizamo Yethu residents sought refuge at the police station after gang violence in the area had escalated. News24