The building is said to have as many as 200 people living in it. The fire is said to have broken out in the early hours, according to Robert Mulaudzi of the city’s emergency services.
“On arrival firefighters started to evacuate all the people out of the building while conducting firefighting operations, 10 people were confirmed dead on scene and 42 people were treated on scene later transported to various healthcare facilities for further medical care. At this stage the cause of the fire incident is still a subject of investigations,” he said.
Search-and-recovery operations are ongoing and firefighters are moving through the building to pull out possibly more dead bodies, Mulaudzi added.
JUST IN: At least 20 people die in a 5-storey building fire in the Johannesburg CBD at Corner of Delvers, Alberts Streets. Johannesburg Emergency Services confirmed. The authorities are on scene investigating the cause of the blaze. pic.twitter.com/2YiTPu2hK6
— Scrolla Africa (@ScrollaAfrica) August 31, 2023
The disaster comes six weeks after a gas explosion ripped through the CBD, killing one person, leaving 48 others injured. The source of methane gas is yet to be confirmed.
Read more in Daily Maverick: Emergency teams race to find source of Johannesburg explosion as city center remains volatile
Officials from City of Johannesburg Disaster Management have been dispatched to start facilitating relief for affected people.
This is a developing story. DM