A devastating fire broke out in a multi-story building in Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, resulting in at least 63 confirmed deaths and 43 injuries.
The fire erupted in the middle of the night, and emergency services are still on the scene. Robert Mulaudzi, a spokesperson for the emergency services, cautioned that the death toll could rise as more people might be trapped inside the building.
The building, located in the central business district, was an "informal settlement" where homeless individuals had taken up residence.
Witnesses estimate that at least 200 people may have been living there. Search and recovery operations are ongoing, and authorities have largely extinguished the fire, although smoke continues to emanate from the building's windows.
According to Sky News, family members searching for their loved ones have been told that the chances of finding them alive are "very slim."
One woman, who was looking for her daughter, emotionally stated,
"This is not a place where somebody can live. I was trying to get her to come back home so she could get back to the life she was living before."
