A significant fire tore through a five-story building in Johannesburg, resulting in a tragic toll of 63 fatalities and leaving 43 others injured, according to the city’s emergency services.
The blaze was first reported around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, as indicated by CNN’s coverage.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and officials from the City of Johannesburg Disaster Management have been mobilized to provide assistance to the affected families, as communicated in a video statement.
Videos circulating on social media showcase substantial flames engulfing the lower floor of the building, with numerous individuals appearing to have managed to escape outside.
Through a series of tweets, Robert Mulaudzi, the spokesperson for emergency services, revealed that several injured individuals were receiving treatment, with some already transported to healthcare facilities, as reported by CNN.
Concurrently, South African state broadcaster SABC conveyed that emergency services and firefighters are actively engaged in efforts to suppress the ongoing intense fire.
