Johannesburg CBD fire
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Home » At least 63 killed in Johannesburg CBD fire – Death toll expected to rise

At least 63 killed in Johannesburg CBD fire – Death toll expected to rise

At least 63 people died when an alleged hijacked building in Johannesburg CBD caught fire on Thursday morning.

By Nokwanda Ncwane
31-08-23 10:41
in News
Johannesburg CBD fire
Image: Twitter.

At least 58 people have been killed while over 40 were injured after an alleged hijacked building in the Johannesburg CBD caught fire.

The incident happened in the early hours on Thursday, 31 August.

SCORES KILLED IN JOHANNESBURG FIRE

City of Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said a five storey building at the corners of Alberts and Delvers streets in Marshalltown.

“About 43 people were treated for smoke inhalation and various injuries. Most of them are walking patients and we have transferred them to various healthcare facilities in Johannesburg,” he said.

Mulaudzi said the death toll is expected to increase because they have stopped fire fighting operations and they are busy with search and recovery.

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“We understand that it’s like an informal settlement inside the building so we have to go through all the debris inside the building floor by floor to make sure that we are able to recover more bodies,” he added.

Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko is expected to visit victims who have been admitted at the Helen Joseph Hospital while Human Settlements MEC Lebogang Maile is expected to visit the scene in Marshalltown.

ALSO READ: DA: Eskom’s R24 billion demand must be rejected

ANOTHER TREMOR RECORDED

The tragic incident comes just hours after an earthquake was reported in the west of Johannesburg on Wednesday night.

According to EMSC, an Independent Scientific Organization and provider of real-time earthquake info, an earthquake measuring 3.2 magnitude has rattled the region near Johannesburg.

Here are the areas where residents felt the earthquake:

  • Soweto
  • Eikenhof 
  • Meyerton 
  • Johannesburg 
  • Mayfair 
  • Lenasia 
  • Brixton 
  • Krugersdorp 

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