Cape Town – A woman has been arrested for allegedly setting fire to a building in Johannesburg, resulting in the death of two people.
The incident occurred in a hijacked building in the CBD, with the fire spreading rapidly and claiming two lives, while four individuals are currently hospitalised.
During the blaze, two people jumped from the second floor, and three were rescued from the balcony.
“Two people were found dead as search and rescue operations continue at the building fire. City of Joburg EMS received a call about a residential building fire at Commissioner and Nugget streets in the CBD,” IOL quoted Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) spokesperson Nana Radebe-Kgiba as saying.
Witnesses reported seeing the arrested woman pouring paraffin and starting the fire.
Two people have been killed in a residential building fire in the Johannesburg CBD. Four have been taken to hospital for medical treatment. Here is Joburg EMS spokesperson, Nnana Kgiba with more details.#DStv403 #eNCA pic.twitter.com/BIC6Ovewzl
— eNCA (@eNCA) January 21, 2024
The Johannesburg Emergency Management Services said it will conduct investigations into the cause of the fire after firefighting operations are complete.
The safety of the building, described as being like an informal settlement, has been questioned, and city officials are yet to determine the total number of people affected.
EMS Firefighters responded to a building on fire in Joburg CBD in the early hours of this morning where 4 people treated on scene transported to nearest health care facilities by Gauteng EMS, cause of the fire incident is unknown at this point in time. pic.twitter.com/PxgwiaTZLh
— COJ People’s MMC Public Safety (@PublicSafetyMMC) January 21, 2024
City Manager Flloyd Brink mentioned ongoing efforts to address the issue of illegally occupied buildings in Johannesburg.
“The fire operation continues at the two-storey building that was engulfed with flames earlier this morning. The fire spread very quickly, affecting different levels of the building because of the combustible materials used,” Joburg EMS spokesperson Xolile Khumalo said, according to The Citizen.
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Picture: X/@PublicSafetyMMC
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
