Lagatar24 Desk
Johannesburg, Aug 31: Municipal officials in Johannesburg, South Africa, reported that a large fire that broke out on Thursday in a multi-story residential complex claimed at least 64 lives whereas more than 40 other people were injured.
Emergency Management Services stated that the fire has been largely quelled, and they are currently engaged in a search and rescue operation. It is expected that the count of fatalities might escalate.
Bodies were lying covered on a roadway close to the scene of the fatal fire when firefighters and rescue vehicles arrived.
The fire, which started in the early morning hours, caused at least 43 injuries, according to the authorities.
Robert Mulaudzi, an officer with the Johannesburg Emergency Service, stated that the structure was in fact an “informal settlement” where homeless individuals had moved in search of housing without having signed any legal lease agreements. That made it challenging to search the structure, he added.
The number of residents in the building is estimated to have ranged up to 200.
The reason behind the fire and the extent of destruction have not been determined yet.
