A five-story skyscraper in central Johannesburg caught fire overnight, killing dozens of people and injuring many more, officials in South Africa’s largest city reported on Thursday.
According to the most recent information from local authorities, the death toll has risen to 73, with 43 injured, some of whom were rescued from the burning structure. The survivors have been sent to local hospitals.
Firefighters were called at around 1.30 a.m. local time, according to Robert Mulaudzi, a spokesman for the city’s emergency management services. The fire has finally been put out.
Mulaudzi warned that when rescue crews search the burned-out scene from floor to floor, the number of dead could grow even further.
According to local media, the building had previously been abandoned, but hundreds of people were still living within, which explains the huge number of victims.
The cause of the fire is being investigated, and officials are refusing to divulge any early findings.
