JOHANNESBURG: A fire that tore through a five-storey building taken over for illegal housing killed more than 70 people including children in central Johannesburg overnight, the South African city’s emergency services said on Thursday.
An additional 52 were injured in what is on track to become one of the deadliest fires worldwide in recent years.
Bodies were discovered piled up at a security gate that was closed, preventing people from escaping the blaze, an official said.
City authorities said the municipality-owned building in a deprived, crime-ridden area had been turned into illegal housing after being abandoned.
Most of those living there were foreigners, one resident said.
“We have now 73 fatalities and 52 people injured who were transported to various healthcare facilities for further medical care,” Emergency Management Services spokesman Robert Mulaudzi said.
At least seven children were among those killed, the youngest under two years old, he said. Some were left burned beyond recognition.
“I’m grateful to be alive, there was a lot of us running, trying to find the fire exit and a lot of people eventually died because of the smoke inhalation,” said Kenny Bupe, a survivor caught up in the blaze while visiting a friend. — AFP
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