Fire engulfs South African five-story building, over 70 dead

Over 70 individuals have tragically lost their lives in a devastating fire that swept through a five-story building in South Africa. The incident occurred in central Johannesburg on Thursday and claimed the lives of both adults and children.

Emergency services in South Africa confirmed this distressing news, revealing that an additional 52 people sustained injuries in the incident. This fire is now poised to rank among the most lethal fires observed globally in recent years.

Officials shared that the remains of the deceased were discovered in a distressing state near a locked security gate, which unfortunately hindered their escape from the inferno.

Authorities of the city reported that the affected structures were situated in an underprivileged, crime-stricken neighborhood and had been repurposed as illegal residences after being abandoned. This dire situation had drawn in mostly foreign occupants, according to statements from a local resident.