"Tragedy Strikes Johannesburg: Over 70 Lives Lost in Devastating Building Fire"

1 min read
Source: The New York Times
"Tragedy Strikes Johannesburg: Over 70 Lives Lost in Devastating Building Fire"
Photo: The New York Times
TL;DR

At least 73 people were killed and dozens injured in a fire that engulfed a dilapidated building in Johannesburg, South Africa, where squatters lived in dangerous conditions. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation, but initial evidence suggests it started on the ground floor. The building was one of over 600 derelict structures in Johannesburg that are illegally occupied, highlighting the severe lack of affordable housing in the city. Many residents, including migrants, lit fires for warmth and light, posing a deadly hazard. The fire ranks among the deadliest residential fires in recent years, surpassing the toll of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London.

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