A fire that consumed a five-story building in central Johannesburg, South Africa, resulted in the deaths of more than 70 people, including children, according to the city's emergency services. Over 50 individuals were also injured, some suffering from smoke inhalation and subsequently receiving treatment at local hospitals, stated Robert Mulaudzi, spokesperson for Emergency Management Services. Mulaudzi reported.
"We have a total of 73 fatalities and 52 injured individuals who were taken to different healthcare facilities for further medical attention." This incident has the potential to become one of the most lethal fires in recent years globally. Among the victims were at least seven children, and the youngest victim was less than two years old, with some bodies severely burned beyond recognition.
Firefighters have successfully extinguished the fire and are currently engaged in search and recovery operations. Mulaudzi explained.
"We are systematically conducting body recoveries on each floor." As the emergency services continued to retrieve charred bodies from the building, the scene was described by an AFP reporter.
The cause of the overnight blaze remained unclear. Mgcini Tshwaku, a member of the city's mayoral committee in charge of public safety, speculated that candles used for illumination within the structure could be a probable cause.
The building, located in a previously business-oriented area, had been turned into an informal settlement and possibly occupied illegally. Mulaudzi mentioned the presence of a closed security gate inside the building that hindered escape.
This unfortunate event highlighted the issue of illegal occupancy of abandoned city buildings, often controlled by criminal groups that collect rent from occupants. The rapid spread of the fire, fueled by combustible materials, led to its devastation across various levels of the building. This fire marked one of the most fatal incidents in South Africa and worldwide.
Notably, a previous fuel tanker explosion near Johannesburg resulted in 34 deaths, and a dilapidated building fire in the city claimed the lives of two children under 10 who were trapped in an apartment.
0 Comments