More than 70 people were killed overnight when fire tore through a derelict multi-storey building in Johannesburg South Africa’s biggest city. According to officials about 52 more were injured in the blaze. Robert Mulaudzi, a spokesman for Johannesburg emergency services, has warned the number of fatalities may rise further, as more people could be trapped inside. There were "obstructions" everywhere, and this would have made it difficult for people to escape. Firefighters are still dousing the smouldering debris from the fire which took hold in the early hours of the morning.
The inferno has been described as one of the worst fire incidents in Johannesburg in recent history.
The building is an old one that was declared unsafe for use, but had been taken over by property gangs operating in the city centre who rent out rooms to scores of people per room.
Such buildings are often without running water and pose a fire hazard owing to numerous illegal electricity connections needed to provide power to tenants.
Describing the incident, Mulaudzi told local media: "I've never seen anything like this in my 22 years or service in this city.”
According to officials each floor resembled an informal settlement... rescue workers are combing through partitions resembling shacks, searching for survivors, and more fatalities.
Meanwhile, some of those who escaped have camped outside the building dreadfully waiting for news of their relatives, others are waiting to see what of their belongings can be salvaged.
