Firefighters have recovered the body of a woman from the rubble at a residential complex in Midrand that was destroyed by fire last night.
Johannesburg Emergency Services Management (EMS) spokesperson Xolile Khumalo confirmed that their search and rescue team found the body.
“The body was buried under rubble and the collapsed roof,” she said. “According to the complex’s security, this is where the fire started last night. EMS extends heartfelt condolences to the family.”
A 32-year-old man, who helped save other residents from the burning building, also recounted his experience.
Tebogo Seloane said he was on the phone with his girlfriend around 8:30 PM when he noticed smoke in his apartment.
“When I came out, the security said, ‘listen, young man, there’s smoke coming out of here,’” he said.
Seloane and the security guard tried to open the neighbor’s door, where the smoke was coming from, but couldn’t.
They then decided to break the window to gain access. “We realized we couldn’t get someone in because of the smoke, so we broke the door by kicking and using a spanner,” he said.
After opening the door to let the smoke out, Seloane ran to the neighbours’ doors, shouting and telling everyone to evacuate because the alarm had been ringing for a while.
“But everyone thought the alarm was just for something burning in the kitchen, not a fire,” Seloane said.
After getting people outside, some residents wanted to go back to collect their belongings.
“People were trying to force their way in as they wanted to collect their stuff. They physically pushed me and I pushed back and I said comrades’ life is more important than materialistic things,” he said.
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