A tragic incident occurred in downtown Johannesburg on Thursday morning, resulting in the loss of 63 lives and leaving over 40 people injured, as announced by city officials. The fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. local time in South Africa’s largest city. As soon as firefighters arrived at the scene, they swiftly embarked on evacuating individuals from the five-story building and containing the flames.
By 8 a.m. local time, the fire was mostly extinguished, although smoke could still be seen coming out of windows. The City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services spokesperson, Robert Mulaudzi, reported an ongoing search and recovery operation within the building. So far, 63 bodies have been recovered, with at least one child among the deceased.
In addition to the fatalities, 43 individuals received on-site medical treatment for their injuries. While the extent of their injuries was not disclosed, Mulaudzi stated that they were all transported to nearby hospitals for further care.
The City of Johannesburg Disaster Management has initiated relief efforts to support the affected families. However, the cause of the fire remains unknown and is currently under investigation.
The building where the fire occurred had reportedly been occupied by homeless individuals seeking shelter without formal lease agreements. This made the search effort more challenging, as highlighted by Mulaudzi, who described this incident as unprecedented in his 20 years of service.
Eyewitnesses believe that as many as 200 people might have been residing in the building. The exact number is yet to be confirmed.
As the investigation continues, updates on the incident will be provided. This serves as a reminder that this is an ongoing story, and additional information will be made available in due course.
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We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and their families affected by this tragic event.
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