The death toll in a building fire that broke out early Thursday morning in the South African city of Johannesburg (north) has risen to 63, according to authorities, who do not yet know the cause of the fire.
Its spokesman, Robert Mulaudzi, explained to local media that firefighters were alerted to the fire around 01:30 local time (23:30 GMT on Wednesday) and that, among the deceased, there was “a child who could be between one and two years old.” ”.
@CityofJoburgEMS Firefighters are currently attending to a building on fire in @CityofJoburgZA CBD corner Delvers, Alberts street at this stage 10 people confirmed dead and multiple patients treated on scene transported to various health care facilities for further medical care pic.twitter.com/20b6NXaHvF
— Cojems Spokesperson (@RobertMulaudzi) August 31, 2023
“It is a five-story building that caught fire in the early hours of Thursday. We managed to evacuate the people who were inside as soon as we arrived, while we were carrying out firefighting operations, ”he detailed.
Among the affected survivors, who were taken to hospital, some suffered minor injuries, while others inhaled smoke. According to Mulaudzi, the fire has already been contained and they were now busy with “put-out operations.”
This is the third building fire that has occurred in Johannesburg in recent months, according to South African media reports, after two minors died in another incident in June.
