Johannesburg fire: one of the worst blazes in South Africa’s history

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A fire broke out in a five-story building in central Johannesburg on Thursday morning, killing at least 74 people.

People living in the building, which was a maze of shacks and other makeshift structures, jumped out of windows to escape the fire. This fire ranks as one of the most severe incidents in South Africa’s history, resulting in the tragic loss of 12 children’s lives.

The fire affected up to 200 families who were living in the building, which officials had labeled as an “informal settlement.” Some of the victims may have been renting rooms in the building from criminal gangs. Seven of the victims were children, including a one-year-old. The fire caused injuries to around 60 people. Videos from the scene show raging flames consuming the lower level of the building.

The authorities are still looking for people who may be trapped in the building, and they expect the death toll to increase.

Fire affected more than 140 families, says authority

Over 200 individuals, including families, had been residing in the fire-damaged building, which included the basement—a space not intended for habitation.

Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda was unable to specify the number of people inside the building when the fire ignited, but he did confirm that the fire had affected 141 families. He also said that many of the people inside were foreign nationals, which could make identifying victims and tracing the missing difficult, as many of them were likely in South Africa illegally.

A woman, who chose to remain anonymous, reported that she resided in the building and managed to escape along with her adult son and a two-year-old child. The woman stood outside, holding the toddler for several hours. She was concerned about the whereabouts of two other children from her family. She described the chaotic scene inside, with smoke filling the area. Now She expressed her despair, saying that she now lacks a home and is unsure about her next steps.

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