Over 70 people killed in Joburg fire
Over 70 people died in a five-story building at Johannesburg fire on Thursday.
The building is reportedly abandoned and a habitat for homeless people, but the officials are yet to know the cause of the fire.
Johannesburg city manager Floyd Brink said 200 families were affected by the fire and “all efforts” were taken to provide accommodation.
Authorities said they got calls about a massive fire at a five-storey building in Johannesburg’s Marshalltown area about 1:30am on Thursday (23:30 GMT on Wednesday).
By the evening, the death toll had risen to 74 while more than 50 people had been taken to nearby hospitals for injuries and smoke inhalation.
Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda said displaced survivors would have temporary accommodation for three days.
The building’s main security gate was also closed, making it difficult for residents to escape, according to Mgcini Tshwaku, a member of Johannesburg’s mayoral committee in charge of public safety. “Many burned bodies were found stashed at that gate,” he told the media.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called it a “tragedy”, adding that the “unprecedented” incident was a “wake-up call”.
