CBD BLAZE
Joburg inner-city fire – at least 73 dead, over 50 hurt as flames tear through hijacked building
At least 73 people have been killed and 50 injured in a raging fire at a five-storey hijacked building on the corner Alberts and Delvers streets in the Johannesburg city center.
The building is said to have as many as 200 people living in it. The fire is said to have broken out in the early hours, according to Robert Mulaudzi of the city’s emergency services.
“On arrival firefighters started to evacuate all the people out of the building while conducting firefighting operations, 10 people were confirmed dead on scene and 42 people were treated on scene later transported to various healthcare facilities for further medical care. At this stage the cause of the fire incident is still a subject of investigations,” he said.
Search-and-recovery operations are ongoing and firefighters are moving through the building to pull out possibly more dead bodies, Mulaudzi added.
JUST IN: At least 20 people die in a 5-storey building fire in the Johannesburg CBD at Corner of Delvers, Alberts Streets. Johannesburg Emergency Services confirmed. The authorities are on scene investigating the cause of the blaze. pic.twitter.com/2YiTPu2hK6
— Scrolla Africa (@ScrollaAfrica) August 31, 2023
The disaster comes six weeks after a gas explosion ripped through the CBD, killing one person, leaving 48 others injured. The source of methane gas is yet to be confirmed.
Read more in Daily Maverick: Emergency teams race to find source of Johannesburg explosion as city center remains volatile
Officials from City of Johannesburg Disaster Management have been dispatched to start facilitating relief for affected people.
This is a developing story. DM
Where’s Kenny?
who is Kenny? What has that to do with this tragedy?
Out of respect for the dead, please reconsider your photo on this article. Showing visible bodies is not acceptable.
I totally agree.
Please, DM, I appreciate your coverage of so many topics, would you please consider a different picture for this article? Where’s the respect for these people and their loved ones? And also for those reading your articles – we don’t need to see burnt bodies in order to have empathy, concern and compassion.
For the people who listen to these articles. Can we please stop the silly adverts from the business podcast guys.. so lame :P. Literally 2 boring old guys who think they’re hilarious
Heads have to roll for this.
You are joking of course
Mock horror , legacy of Apartheid, no stone unturned, fault of the DA it will all blow over.
Cyril will be shocked.