Survivors of an overnight fire in Johannesburg have been left shattered and destitute after the blaze destroyed a five-storey building in the city overnight.
Authorities, which must now grapple with the fallout, have promised to provide support for those who were made homeless and to investigate the origin of the fire.
Here’s a look back at the day’s developments:
- 74 people – including 12 children – died in a fire that broke out in a five-storey building in Johannesburg, South Africa’s biggest city
- Around 200 families have been affected, according to officials. It is unclear where they will sleep tonight
- The fire was in a “hijacked” building- a term used to describe buildings that have been taken over by criminal gangs, who then rent them out to make money
- Authorities are unsure what caused the fire
- We heard accounts of survivors who were forced to jump from upper floors and throw their children out of windows to escape the blaze
- President Cyril Ramaphosa who visited the site said the tragedy was a “wake-up call for us” to address the issue of housing in the inner city
Source: BBC NEWS
Add Comment