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Mop up operations began early this morning after the fire fanned by a strong south westerly wind tore through the area last night.
The fire is believed to have started at around 5-30 yesterday afternoon in the Royal Warf area of the canals.
Kouga Municipality spokesperson Laura-Leigh Randall says the SAPS forensic unit has been tasked with establishing the cause of the fire.
She said the Local Government MEC and the Kouga and Cacadu Mayors are visiting the area this morning.
AlgoaFM news editor Shadley Nash is at the canals and says the area looks like its been struck by a world war bombing blitzkrieg.
He says a group of men was seen trying to hack into a safe in one of the devastated homes but that they were unable to remove it from the wall.
Traffic is severely backed up in the area as people try to get to the canals to view the devastation.
Motorists and onlookers are advised to stay away from the area.
