With search-and-rescue operations still underway, the death toll in a fire that broke out in a five-storey building in Johannesburg early this morning has risen to 73.

The cause of the fire, in what appears to be a hijacked building on the corner of Alberts and Delvers streets, is still under investigation.

SAnews.gov.za reports that City of Johannesburg MMC for Public Safety Mgcini Tshwaku described how those trapped inside the building battled to escape the fire. Eyewitnesses recalled how people were screaming while trying to get out.

“There are burnt bodies beyond recognition, I have never seen that sight before. 73 have been confirmed dead. One of the things that was an issue was that inside the building, it looks as if there was a gate which was closed so they could not go out. The main reason here that there’s a high death toll is that there are a lot of partitions and gates [inside the building].”

Tshwaku said many burnt bodies were found stuck at an exit gate.

At 08:00, it was confirmed that 58 people had died. As emergency workers searched the scene, the number rose to 63 within an hour.

Johannesburg Emergency Management spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi confirmed the most recent number of fatalities at 10:13 in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

He says the search-and-recovery operation is still ongoing.

Latest update is 73 fatalities and 52 injured still continuing with search and recovery operation

— Cojems Spokesperson (@RobertMulaudzi) August 31, 2023

According to EMS this is a high jacked building and when emergency services got in they realised it’s almost like an informal settlement inside. It’s not yet clear what caused the fire. Seems as though it started on ground floor. It’s a 5 storey building #eNCA #CBDFire pic.twitter.com/IjfzabY9BU

— Heidi Giokos (@HeidiGiokos) August 31, 2023