Topline
More than 70 people have died in Johannesburg after a fire tore through a multi-story building early Thursday morning, emergency services said, with the death toll expected to rise as search and rescue crews in South Africa’s largest city continue to comb through the site.
A South African firefighter walks past fire engines at the scene of a fire in Johannesburg.
Key Facts
At least 73 people have died in the blaze as of 10:22 local time Thursday morning, officials said.
A further 52 people were injured in the fire, officials said.
Officials said the fire has been contained but warned the number of people killed and injured are expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue.
What We Don’t Know
How the fire started. Officials said they are still looking into the cause of the blaze. It reportedly started at around 1:30 a.m. local time. Mgcini Tshwaku, a Johannesburg official, said there were signs people had lit fires inside of the building to keep warm in the winter cold, according to the Associated Press.
Key Background
Johannesburg, often just Joburg, is South Africa’s most populous city and its chief economic hub. Aspects of the city illustrate some of the vast inequalities in South Africa—a legacy of colonialism and apartheid—and reports suggest it is the most unequal country in the world. For years the city had a dangerous reputation for violence and crime, particularly parts of the inner city, though it has shed much of this in recent years. Still, parts of the inner city are known for “hijacked” buildings, or abandoned sites taken over by squatters.
Further Reading
South Africa danger zone: Living in a ‘hijacked’ building (BBC)