Most of the emergency services teams have departed from the scene of one of South Africa’s deadliest fires, which engulfed a Johannesburg building on Thursday.
On Friday, police sniffer dogs were deployed to scour through the charred remains of the dilapidated structure in search of any remaining bodies.
The devastating fire, which occurred in a condemned five-story block, resulted in the tragic loss of 74 lives, with most victims suffering extensive burns that necessitate DNA testing for identification.
Authorities estimate that around 200 people were residing in the illegal housing created within the abandoned building.
While household fires are a common occurrence in Johannesburg, particularly in impoverished areas where candles and hazardous paraffin stoves are often used for lighting and cooking, Thursday’s blaze has underscored the city’s housing crisis.
Beyond the cordoned-off area, several survivors with visible injuries like head wounds and fractures await assistance.
Meanwhile, alongside the relatives of the deceased, some individuals have commenced the somber process of identifying their beloved family members at a nearby mortuary.
The exact cause of the fire remains a mystery, but forensic investigators were also present at the site on Friday, meticulously examining the scorched remnants of the structure.