Twenty-six shacks were ravaged by fire last night at Tutaleni in Walvis Bay.

Residents in the Khomas Hochland street at Tutaleni Walvis Bay were rudely awakened by a huge fire that started from one of the shacsks.

According to one of the fire victims, when he woke up, he observed that his brothers' shack was on fire.

Police say the fire eventually spread to other shacks, leaving families destitute.

Although most of their belongings were damaged, no injuries or deaths were reported.

The municipality of Swakopmund has cautioned its residents to desist from illegal electrical connections and put out candles before they leave home or go to bed.

Nineteen people were left homeless after their shacks burned to the ground in Mondesa, near Swakopmund, on Monday.

The department of works from the Swakopmund municipality was on site to clear the area while the offices of the Chief Executive Officer and the Mayor handed out food, mattresses, blankets, clothes, and other basic necessities to those affected by the fire.