Grief and anger after Johannesburg blaze that killed at least 74
Source: The Guardian
Grief and anger after Johannesburg blaze that killed at least 74
Mourners gather outside 80 Albert Street amid criticisms of government response and lack of support for victims and families
Simon Allison in Johannesburg
Fri 1 Sep 2023 16.56 BST
Last modified on Fri 1 Sep 2023 18.23 BST
South African authorities were on Friday still searching for clues behind the cause of the most deadly fire in the country’s history, with at least 74 people confirmed to have died and dozens more being treated in hospital.
About 400 people are thought to have lived in informal settlements in the building at 80 Albert Street in central Johannesburg, which relied on illegal electricity connections for power and had no emergency exits. It is owned by the City of Johannesburg.
Mourners gathered at the site of the disaster on Friday morning, singing songs of solidarity, conducting prayer vigils, and distributing food to survivors. Several hundred residents are thought to have been displaced.
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Maryam, from the nearby city of Pretoria, was at home when she heard about the fire on the Thursday morning news. Her brother lived in the building. She rushed to the site with her mother and two-year-old daughter, but they have not been able to find out whether he survived. “There has been no communications from government or the police, and there is no support for the families,” she said.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/01/grief-and-anger-in-wake-of-deadly-johannesburg-blaze
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