More than 70 dead in Johannesburg building blaze

A major fire in a block of flats in central Johannesburg has killed at least 73 people, and dozens are injured, with the death toll expected to rise. 

Firefighters have been able to bring some occupants out of the building. Local reports suggest the occupants of the building were mostly African migrants. 

City authorites say it is at the moment unclear what caused the fire at the building Marshalltown which “gutted” the building in the city centre at around 01:30 local time. 

The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Cllr Kabelo Gwamanda, will attend the scene later this morning at 09:30 local time. 

Johannesburg city officials, who have been holding a press conference close to where the blaze happened, have confirmed that the building was owned by the city.

They blamed criminal “cartels” who “prey on poor and vulnerable people” by taking over – or “hijacking” – buildings and then dangerously overfilling them.

The search and recovery of bodies are continuing.