A devastating fire engulfed a busy five-story building in downtown Johannesburg in the early hours of Thursday, obliterating an informal settlement where homeless individuals resided. This tragic incident has been deemed one of the deadliest blazes in the history of South Africa.
Originally designated as emergency housing for women, the city-owned building had transformed into a sprawling squatter camp, highlighting the scarcity of affordable housing in Johannesburg, the country’s most populous city.
Presented here are photographs capturing the aftermath of the fire and the destruction it caused.
Crowds of onlookers gathered near the fire site, witnessing the horror unfold before their eyes. Meanwhile, forensic teams carefully extracted the bodies from the scene, while authorities diligently worked to determine the cause of the fire.
This unfortunate event ranks among the deadliest residential fires in recent memory. Terrified residents recount awakening to the nightmarish sight of flames rapidly spreading throughout the building.
Firefighters valiantly battled the inferno, tirelessly working to extinguish the fierce blaze.
One particular image showcases a blanket hanging from a window, evidence of a desperate escape from the burning building.
Heartbreaking scenes unfold as women mourn in the vicinity of the devastated structure. Some survivors fleeing the fire have revealed that this abandoned site was their only feasible option for affordable housing in the city.
Police have cordoned off the area, while concerned bystanders patiently gather down the street from the apartment complex, anxiously awaiting news about the missing individuals.
Residents salvaged what little belongings they could and collected near the scene of the fire, their lives in disarray.
By midmorning, the flames had been successfully extinguished, allowing firefighters to meticulously comb through each floor, searching for any remaining bodies.
Interestingly, The New York Times journalists visited this very building in May as part of their report on the chaotic housing situation prevalent in Johannesburg. Neighbors then had already raised concerns about the cramped and squalid conditions.
The settlement, depicted in photographs from May, had become a stark symbol of the city’s ongoing struggle to address the pressing housing crisis.
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