At least 64 people dead as fire engulfs building in Johannesburg

As survivors rushed to evacuate a burning building in Johannesburgin South Africa,in the early hours of Thursday, the last words they heard from those who could not escape were “we are dying”.

The City of JohannesburgEmergency Management Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi has confirmedthat atleast 64people have been killed and more than 40 injured in a fire that broke out intheOsindisobuilding at around 1.30am.

The scene in Johannesburgis horrific, with at least 20 covered bodies laid on the street. There are also rows of fire trucks and ambulances where the building caught fire,with police officers also at the scene.

The cause of the fire at the five-storey building in the‘City of Gold’is unclear, accordingtoMr Mulaudzi.However, as per reports, the fire wasstartedbya burning candle.

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A resident described the chaos that ensuedontheSouth African television channelNewzroomAfrika: “I just heard people screaming ‘we are dying’, but I thought maybe I was dreaming.”

The survivor managed to take hisID book andmobile phonebut, like everyone else, lost everything else.

A firefighterat the scenetold Power 98.7 Radioin South Africathat many of the victims of thefire were likely trapped by informal settlements inside the building.

“The picture is of an informal settlement inside the building. The combustible material which is burning inside the building is mostly like the one you find in a normal shack, so the risk of you being trapped as you try to escape is high,” the firefighter said.

According to multiple reports in South Africa, the occupants of the building weremostly immigrants.

The area where the building is located is an inner-cityneighbourhoodthat is known for buildings that have been illegally occupied by people, some of whom may be undocumented immigrants.