5 killed in South African shack fire

Five people were killed in a shack fire in an informal settlement near the South African coastal city of Durban on Saturday, authorities said.

The victims included a mother and her four children but the death toll could rise as police were still searching for the body of a week-old baby who was the twin of one of the dead children, said Brendon Pillay, a local councilor in Chatsworth where the fire took place.

"At this stage we have found five bodies. A mother and her children. One of her twin is still not found. We are still looking for more bodies. There are forensics on the scene, as well as sniffing dogs trying to find the remains of the deceased," said Pillay.

More than 40 people in 20 families have been affected by the fire, he said.

The cause of fire was unknown at this stage but authorities said they suspected arson.