74 people killed as fire engulfs Johannesburg apartment

Jakarta, Indonesia - On Thursday, August 31, a five-story home fire in central Johannesburg killed more than 70 people, including children.

On Thursday, South African emergency services revealed that another 52 people had been injured in what is turning up to be one of the deadliest fires in recent years worldwide.

Officials described the fire as a "informal settlement" that affected up to 200 families. According to them, some of the victims may have rented rooms in the complex from criminal organizations.

It was owned by local authorities, who were still unable to provide a clear image of who had resided there 12 hours after the fire started. According to one officer, several rooms may have been rented out to criminal gangs.

The source of the fire has not been determined, but Mgcini Tshwaku, a local government official, said preliminary evidence suggested it began with a candle. He claimed that residents relied on candles and fireplaces for light and warmth throughout the winter months.

"It's a wake-up call for us to start addressing the housing situation in the inner city," President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed hope that an ongoing study into the origins of the incident would contribute in preventing a similar catastrophe in the future.

Buildings that lack running water, bathrooms, or a legal electricity connection are then referred to as "hijacked."

South Africa has a persistent housing crisis, with an estimated 15,000 homeless individuals in Johannesburg.

"We need to get on top of this and find effective ways of dealing with problems with accommodation, housing, and services in the inner city," Mr. Ramaphosa stated.

He also praised the emergency services for being on the spot 10 minutes after the incident was reported.

Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda said during a visit to the scene that the city will move residents living in similar "hijacked" buildings throughout the city and convert them into social housing. "We are not going there with brute force," he told reporters, "but we are trying to apply a sensitive strategy."

When asked if his administration would accept responsibility for the catastrophe, Mr. Gwamanda claimed the government was dealing with the problem of cartels hijacking buildings across the city.