Kruger National Park fire kills 19

Elephants are a familiar sight in the Kruger National Park

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- The death toll from a fierce fire raging through South Africa's Kruger National Park is reported to have reached 19 people.

Three game rangers and 16 local villagers were killed in the blaze, which began on Tuesday evening and was still burning on Wednesday, Reuters said.

The villagers became trapped in the southern part of the park as they harvested grass and died trying to escape.

Three rangers were killed trying to tackle the fire which is being fanned by strong winds near the Pretoriuskop camp.

Captain Harry Shabangu told Reuters: "Two ladies died on their way to hospital and another died this morning in hospital. The rest were found at the scene,"

Shabangu added. "Most of the people died while they were running away."

The cause of the fire is not yet known. The park is popular with tourists, drawn to its famous concentration of 147 different species including black rhinos, giraffes, water bucks, lions and antelopes.

No animals or tourists have been reported to be injured in the fire, which is covering a large area of dry bushland.

One million tourists visit the park each year, 40 per cent from abroad, making it one of the country's most treasured and economically important sites.

Salifou Siddo, head of corporate affairs at South African National Parks, told Reuters: "The fire started in the southern part of the park and that trapped 14 people of the neighbouring villages who have permission to harvest thatching grass.

He added: "It could be that it was a natural fire caused by lightning, or that it was a man-made fire.

"Currently our people are on the ground working to keep the fire under control."

The Pretoriuskop camp, which has accommodation for up to 350 people, was unaffected by the blaze, despite the extensive damage nearby.

William Mabasa, a park spokesman, was quoted by Reuters as telling public radio SABC: "The fire started yesterday and it has been raging through the night.

"Unfortunately, in that process we have lost 17 lives."