Up to 10,000 moved as fires rage near South Africa's oyster capital

Wildfires burn near Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, June 8, 2017. Strong winds fanned fires destroyed houses and prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents in nearby Knysna. Picture taken June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Juanita Eksteen EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Up to 10,000 people in the South African coastal resort of Knysna have been evacuated as wildfires fanned by strong winds ripped through the town, razing homes and other properties, officials said on Thursday.

Eight people have been killed, three of them in the Knysna area, as the worst storm to hit Cape Town in three decades made landfall late on Tuesday before hurtling eastwards along what is known as South Africa's "Garden Route".

"Humanitarian support is being co-ordinated for an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 residents of the greater Knysna area, after devastating fires last night," said James-Brent Styan, spokesman for the Western Cape local government ministry.

A building destroyed by wildfires is seen near Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, June 8, 2017. Strong winds fanned fires destroyed houses and prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents in nearby Knysna. Picture taken June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Juanita Eksteen EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE

The bush wildfires, driven by winds in excess of 50 km (30 miles) an hour, destroyed property in 20 suburbs as buses were sent to evacuate trapped residents of the tourist town, renowned for its oysters and rugged coastal scenery.

According to the South African Weather Service, 37 millimeters of rain fell at Cape Town airport. Other areas recorded as much as 131 mm of rain.

Thousands of people in shantytowns, who have had to cope with the region's worst drought in a century, have been hardest hit, as floods and heavy rain washed away homes built of planks and zinc sheets.

Wildfires burn near Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, June 8, 2017. Strong winds fanned fires destroyed houses and prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents in nearby Knysna. Picture taken June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Juanita Eksteen EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE

(Reporting by Wendell Roelf, Editing by Ed Stoddard and Angus MacSwan)

Smoke from bush fires surrounds a house on Solar Beach in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa June 8, 2017. Picture taken June 8, 2017. Adrienne Esterhuyse/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Wildfires burn near Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, June 8, 2017. Strong winds fanned fires destroyed houses and prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents in nearby Knysna. Picture taken June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Juanita Eksteen EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE

Fires burn at Buffelsvermaak farm near Knysna, South Africa June 7, 2017. Strong winds fanned fires which destroyed houses and prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents. Picture taken June 7, 2017. REUTERS/Simone Terblanche