Johannesburg building fire: At least 74 dead, including 12 children

At least 74 have died, with dozens more injured as a result of a fire at a five-storey building in Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday, officials confirmed in the afternoon.

Among the victims were at least 12 children, Johannesburg City manager Floyd Brink revealed during a press briefing.

“We will do our best to ensure that we act diligently in investigating the fire and equally in our pursuit to reclaim the hijacked and illegally occupied buildings in the city,” Brink said, suggesting some tenants may have been living in the municipally-owned building illegally.

“The city of Johannesburg has indeed experienced a series of disasters, of tragedies. But as the executive, we say it ends today,” said Johannesburg’s executive mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda.

The cause of the fire is currently unclear and a police investigation is ongoing.

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