For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails

       Please enter a valid email address

       Please enter a valid email address

       SIGN UP

       I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

       Thanks for signing up to the

       Breaking News email

       {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

       At least 73 people died in a massive fire in a multi-storey building in Johannesburg, South Africa’s biggest city.

       Another 52 people were injured after a fire swept through the building in the city’s central business district, the municipal government said.

       The fire broke out in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday in Marshalltown, Emergency Management Services said.

       Seven of the victims of the blaze were children, including a one-year-old child, Robert Mulaudzi, the spokesperson for the EMS said.

       Some of the people living in a maze of shacks and other makeshift structures inside the building died after jumping out of windows to escape the fire, a local government official said.

       The death toll is likely to increase as a search-and-recovery operation is underway, Mr Mulaudzi said.

       Recommended Johannesburg fire – latest: At least 58 dead as blaze engulfs five-storey building in South African city What next for the Wagner Group as leader presumed dead in plane crash? Gabon’s new military leader paraded through streets of capital

       “Over 20 years in the service, I’ve never come across something like this,” he said.

       Hours after the blaze, authorities said the fire was largely extinguished but thick-black smoke continued to seep out of the windows of the building in the downtown area of the city.

       Visuals showed huge orange flames engulfing the lower floors as residents and neighbours escaped.

       Some pictures from the area showed relatives crying near the covered bodies, lined up near the blackened building.

       Johannesburg authorities said it is yet unknown what sparked the massive fire.

       Reports suggest as many as 200 people lived in the building.

       Recommended Watch: South African president visits site of Johannesburg fire which killed 73 Emergency services on scene outside Johannesburg building after devastating fire Watch: Aftermath of deadly Johannesburg fire as at least 60 people killed

       The five-storey building was effectively an “informal settlement”, attracting homeless individuals who sought shelter without entering into any official lease arrangements, Mr Mulaudzi said.

       He said this situation made it difficult for the rescue workers to conduct search and rescue operations.

       More about Johannesburg South Africa

       Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

       Comments

       1/ 1At least 73 dead in fire at multi-storey building in Johannesburg

       At least 73 dead in fire at multi-storey building in Johannesburg

       Firefighters work at the scene of a deadly blaze in the early hours of the morning, in Johannesburg, South Africa

       REUTERS

       ？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

       Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

       Subscribe

       Already subscribed? Log in