Survivors of Johannesburg fire that killed 74 recall horrifying ordeal

2 Sep 2023 • 2:25 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

Survivors of a deadly fire that claimed 74 lives in South Africa spoke of coming to terms with the tragedy.

The fire ripped through a five-story building in Johannesburg that had been used by an estimated 200 homeless people and squatters, many of them foreign nationals.

One survivor, Malawi-born Tom Mandala injured his leg after he escaped the flames by jumping out of a fourth floor window. He told how he had been sleeping when one of his friends woke him.

“I tried to open the door, but there was too much smoke,” he said and described how he had to break a window before leaping to the street below.”

Newswav Malaysia Best News App

Newswav is an online content aggregator and obtains its content from different online sources. The content in the app do not belong to Newswav nor do they reflect the opinions of Newswav and its staff. Your use of this app indicates your understanding and acceptance of this information.

Newswav Sdn. Bhd. (201701008480 (1222645-M)) 2026 All Rights Reserved