The death toll in this morning’s fire in Marshalltown in the Johannesburg city center has risen to at least 73. More than 50 other people are being treated for injuries.
Of the 73 deaths, 7 are children. The youngest victim is between one and two years old.
The death toll is expected to rise.
A fire engulfed a five storey building in Marshalltown in the Joburg CBD in the early hours of this morning. Emergency authorities are responding to the scene.
Authorities say the death toll is expected to rise, as emergency personnel tend to the incident. EMS staffers responded to the scene just after 01:00 this morning.
@CityofJoburgEMS Firefighters are currently attending to a building on fire in @CityofJoburgZA CBD corner Delvers, Alberts street at this stage 10 people confirmed dead and multiple patients treated on scene transported to various health care facilities for further medical care pic.twitter.com/20b6NXaHvF
— Cojems Spokesperson (@RobertMulaudzi) August 31, 2023
The cause of the fire is not yet known. The building is believed to have been hijacked and unlawfully occupied.
This is a developing story.
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