Africa
Building Fire Leaves 73 People Dead in Downtown Johannesburg
- Blaze was in a illegally occupied building, authorities said
- Johannesburg has 100 ‘neglected buildings,’ official said
Firefighters extiguish a fire in a building in Johannesburg on Aug. 31.
Photographer: Michaele Spatari/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
A fire in a five-story building in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa’s commercial capital, left at least 73 people dead.
The blaze in the illegally occupied building, which erupted in the central business district overnight, also injured 52 people, the municipality said in a statement on Thursday. The cause of the fire is under investigation, it said.