A devastating fire that swept through a five-story building in central Johannesburg claimed the lives of over 70 individuals, including children, according to officials from the city's emergency services. An additional 52 people sustained injuries, some of whom suffered from smoke inhalation. These injured individuals were promptly taken to nearby hospitals for medical treatment, as stated by Emergency Management Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi.

"We have now confirmed 73 fatalities and 52 people injured who were transported to various healthcare facilities for further medical care," Mulaudzi provided.

Tragically, several of those who lost their lives were young children, making this incident one of the most lethal fires globally in recent memory. The youngest victim was less than two years old, and the intensity of the blaze left some victims unidentifiable.

Firefighters successfully extinguished the flames at the scene and are currently focused on preventing any rekindling. Concurrently, search and recovery efforts are ongoing, with teams methodically searching each floor of the building for remains, Mulaudzi conveyed in an interview with local broadcaster ENCA.

A journalist from AFP present at the site observed the continuous retrieval of charred bodies from the building, each carefully placed on the street under coverings.

Mulaudzi conveyed, "It is indeed a sad day for the city of Johannesburg… over 20 years in the service, I’ve never come across something like this."

The cause of the fire has yet to be definitively determined, but there is speculation that the blaze might have been triggered by candles used for illumination within the building.

The structure, situated in a formerly bustling business district that has fallen into disrepair, was utilized as an informal settlement and had been evacuated. Mulaudzi indicated that due to the building's gated enclosure, occupants may have struggled to escape the flames.

"In the building itself, there was a security gate which was closed so people couldn’t get out," Mulaudzi clarified, adding that numerous burnt bodies were found near that gate.

The building's exterior now features burned-out windows and is cordoned off by the police. It has been identified as a location where informal housing had been established, with authorities estimating the presence of more than "80 shacks" within its walls.

The speed with which the fire propagated was due to the use of highly flammable materials throughout the structure, Mulaudzi noted.

This tragedy marks one of the deadliest fires in South Africa's recent history, and it is also among the most severe globally. In the past, South Africa has faced similar incidents, such as a fuel tanker explosion that claimed 34 lives and a fire in a dilapidated building that led to the deaths of two young children.