At least 63 people have been killed in a fire in a multi-storey building in South Africa’s biggest city, authorities have said.
Officials said 43 more were injured in the blaze in Johannesburg, which broke out in the middle of the night.
Robert Mulaudzi, a spokesman for the emergency services, has warned the number of fatalities may rise further – as more people could be trapped inside.
Firefighters work at the scene of a deadly blaze
Firefighters are currently working their way from floor to floor.
“Over 20 years in the service, I’ve never come across something like this,” Mr Mulaudzi added.
At least one child is among the dead – and people looking for their loved ones have been warned that chances of finding them alive are “very slim”.
The building in the central business district has been described as an “informal settlement” where homeless people had moved in looking for accommodation.
According to witnesses, at least 200 people may have been living there.
One woman looking for her daughter tearfully told reporters: “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.”
Locals have arrived at the scene – looking for loved ones. Pic: AP
Firefighters evacuated occupants after arriving at the scene – but now, a search and recovery operation is under way. Bodies lay covered on the street.
Authorities said the fire had been largely extinguished, but smoke still seeped out of windows of the blackened building.
Strings of sheets and other material hung out of windows – and it is unclear whether people were using them to try and escape.
The cause of the fire is yet to be established.
