- More than 60 people have died and more than 40 injured following a fire at a building in central Johannesburg
- Authorities say it’s unclear what sparked the blaze at a five-storey building
- Emergency Services told the BBC the fire gutted the building in the Johannesburg city centre at around 01:30 (00:30 BST)
- Authorities say firefighters evacuated the building’s occupants on arrival, and the search and recovery of bodies is continuing
- Reports suggest the occupants of the building were mostly African migrants
The occupants of the building in the Johannesburg fire were predominantly immigrants, according to local reports.
Local reports say that the area where the building is located is an inner city neighbourhood that is infamous for ‘hijacked’ buildings, a term used in South Africa to refer to buildings illegally taken over by undocumented immigrants.
In the wake of the fire, many South Africans on social media have condemned the online xenophobic attacks that some have made against the victims and survivors of the fire.
The latest death toll from the fire has risen to 63, according to the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services.
Posting on social media, the city of Johannesburg municipality account said the “search mission” continues.
