Recent veld fires in the ||Kharas Mountain areas have destroyed an estimated 160 thousand hectares of grazing land, spread over 19 farms.

This was revealed in an assessment of damages report compiled by the ||Kharas Regional Council.

The report states the veld fires erupted on the 12th of October at Farm Selderus or Garis in the Keetmanshoop District, causing destruction for five days before they were contained.

Affected farmers, the reports state, had to relocate their livestock to grazing areas offered to them.

In addition, it notes that the fires killed livestock and destroyed solar pumps, water tanks, and fencing poles, though it does not indicate a monetary value of the losses.
 
The report suggests the original cause of the veld fires was sparks caused by a vehicle driving over a heap of stones.

It was recommended that the Regional Disaster Risk Management Committee in the region be strengthened and capacitated to mitigate any future disaster.

In a fortunate turn of events, the areas ruined have since received rainfall averaging 40 millimetres immediately following the fire, according to the report.