Death toll climbs to 73 in Johannesburg building fire

The death toll resulting from a devastating building fire in Johannesburg’s central business district on Thursday has climbed to 74, as reported by South African authorities.

During a media brief on Thursday afternoon, Floyd Blink, the city manager of Johannesburg, revealed that a total of 73 individuals lost their lives when a fire engulfed the apartment complex they resided in, leaving over 200 families without homes.

According to Blink, the occupants of the five-story building had resorted to illegal water and electricity connections, which may have contributed to the tragedy.

“At this stage, we can confirm that as of 2:00 p.m. Thursday, 61 people were treated at various medical facilities in and around the city. And 16 have been discharged and 17 remain admitted, with the rest still receiving care at the casualty units,” said Blink, adding that they will take the families who were left homeless to some shelters around Johannesburg.

In an official statement issued on Thursday evening, the Gauteng Department of Health provided a breakdown of the victims, indicating that the 74 fatalities include 40 men, 24 women, and 10 individuals of an under determined gender.

Authorities in Johannesburg’s emergency management were alerted to the fire at approximately 1:30 a.m. local time. The building had been transformed into an informal settlement, comprising more than 80 shacks, and the flames spread rapidly, exacerbated by the flammable materials used to divide the rooms.