Two children were lucky to emerge alive after a shack fire broke out at the One Nation informal settlement in Windhoek's Tobias Hainyeko Contiuency on Monday afternoon.

The two children, aged three and ten, were reportedly on their own when the incident occurred.

According to neighbours, they noticed smoke coming from the shack and screams from passersby that the dwelling was burning.

The neighbours attempted to extinguish the fire but to no avail.

Attempts to put out the fire were in vain, and no household goods could be salvaged.

By the time firefighters arrived on the scene, the shack had already burned to the ground.

The older occupants of the shack arrived from work to a sombre scene.

They are appealing for assistance from any good Samaritan.