Vipi Radio
A tragic incident has occurred in Johannesburg as a fire engulfed a block of flats, resulting in a devastating loss of life.
According to South African authorities, the death toll has reached at least 73 individuals, with more than 40 others sustaining injuries, BBC Reports.
The fire broke out in a five-storey building situated in the city Centre, leaving Johannesburg officials puzzled as to what might have triggered the blaze.
Robert Mulaudzi, a spokesperson for the emergency services, conveyed to the BBC that firefighters managed to rescue some of the occupants amidst the chaos.
Unfortunately, the fire ravaged the building extensively, prompting ongoing efforts to search for additional victims.
As Mr. Mulaudzi shared with local broadcaster ENCA, the process involves a systematic search on each floor for body recoveries.
In a video posted on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter), Mr. Mulaudzi exhibited the scene outside the building, illustrating the presence of fire trucks and ambulances alongside windows now charred by the flames.
Heart-wrenching images from the location displayed covered bodies placed in a somber row close to the burnt structure.
The building, situated in what was previously a business district within South Africa’s economic nucleus, had taken on the role of an informal settlement, Mr. Mulaudzi disclosed.
Initial accounts indicate that the building’s occupants were primarily migrants hailing from various African countries, adding to the complexity of this devastating incident.
