Twelve children were killed in a fire that ripped through a five-storey building in central Johannesburg overnight, South African authorities said on Thursday.
An additional 61 were injured and treated in hospital in one of the deadliest fires worldwide in recent years.
According to AFP, bodies were discovered piled up at a security gate that was closed, preventing people from escaping the blaze, an official said.
The head of forensics services in Johannesburg’s Gauteng province, Thembalethu Mpahlaza, said a total of 74 bodies were recovered, 24 female, 40 male, and 10 “burnt beyond recognition”.
“We are having 12 children involved also in this tragedy,” he told a press conference.
City authorities said the municipality-owned, listed building in a deprived, crime-ridden area had been turned into illegal housing after being abandoned.
Most of those living there were foreigners, one resident said.
“I’m grateful to be alive, There was a lot of us running, trying to find the fire exit and a lot of people eventually died because of the smoke inhalation,” said Kenny Bupe, a survivor caught up in the blaze while visiting a friend.
The 28-year-old told AFP he was in a group that managed to break open a locked fire escape gate and run to safety, while others “jumped out” of windows.
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