Picture courtesy: (SABC News) Four people were killed by a fire that broke out at an abandoned building in Jeppestown, Johannesburg, on Sunday morning. The fire also injured three people; one suffered serious injuries and was sent to Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, while the other two were taken to Hillbrow Clinic for additional medical care.
(The Post News)- Four people have died in a fire that is believed to have started in the early hours of Sunday morning at an abandoned building in Jeppestown, Johannesburg.The fire left three other people injured, and while two of the injured were taken to Hillbrow Clinic for additional treatment, one with severe injuries was transported to Charlott Maxeke Hospital.
The Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesperson, Robert Mulaudzi, stated that although the fire was contained by firefighters, an investigation is still being conducted to ascertain the source of the fire, which is likely to have started from an unlawful connection.
According to Mulaudzi, the building is abandoned, and the people who reside there try to partition it with sheet metal dividers to make room for themselves. He stated that the emergency services department will turn over the premises to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further investigation.
Mulaudzi said that during a search and recovery operation, firefighters recovered bodies and some individuals were taken to the nearest medical facility to be treated for smoke inhalation and injuries caused by the fire.
Furthermore, the City of Johannesburg Emergency Services said it has engaged disaster management personnel to assist with relief efforts for those affected by the fire. Mulaudzi asserted that the cause of the fire is still being investigated, and they have requested that their colleagues at City Power try and disconnect some of the building’s unlawful connections, as well as city officials, to facilitate some relief for the affected individuals.
The emergency services are currently putting out the hot spots that the residents created, starting on the ground floor and working their way up to the last floor. They are sweeping the entire building, including an extra floor, to eliminate any possibility that some individuals could still be missing.
About the Author
