Fire kills over 70, injures 52 others in Johannesburg

A building fire in central Johannesburg, South Africa, killed at least 75 people and injured 52 others.

Emergency Services spokesman Robert Mulaudzi released the death toll on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying search and recovery efforts were ongoing.

The fire broke out before dawn in a five-story building that Mulaudzi said was being used as an informal settlement by immigrants. The cause of the fire is under investigation. A spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the fire is a “wake-up call” for the country to address the housing crisis.