A tragic fire occurred in central Johannesburg, engulfing a five-storey building. The South African city’s emergency services reported that over 70 people, including children, lost their lives in the blaze.
Additionally, 52 individuals sustained injuries, some due to smoke inhalation, and were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The youngest victim was a child less than two years old, and the fire is on track to become one of the deadliest in recent years globally.
Firefighters have extinguished the flames and are currently focusing on dampening any remaining hotspots. Search and recovery operations are ongoing as teams work to retrieve bodies from each floor of the building.
