Death toll from fire at Joburg building rises to 7 #CAPnews

JOHANNESBURG - Emergency services have confirmed to Eyewitness News that the death toll from a fire at a building in the central business district has risen to seven.
Officials add seven other people have been rushed to a hospital and at least 50 have been rescued.

Over 50 people have been rescued from the roof of the building using the Bronto Skylift, and five were rushed to hospital @CityofJoburgZApic.twitter.com/zmYQNVEQDB
— City of Joburg EMS (@CityofJoburgEMS) July 5, 2017

Of those who died, at least one jumped from the building, while others were burnt or died from smoke inhalation. Earlier it was reported that one person had died after jumping from the burning building on Nugget Street. 

Emergency services Nana Radebe says, “While doing a search and rescue we found six people dead, in total we have seven people who perished in the fire. Seven people have been taken to a hospital with different injuries. A man who jumped from the building is among the seven victims.”

Update: During the search of the Cape York building three more bodies were found. Search & Rescue still continuing pic.twitter.com/TLiTMhOPLy

— City of Joburg EMS (@CityofJoburgEMS) July 5, 2017

Building on fire in Johannesburg cbd.#Joburgfirepic.twitter.com/3j60vnHgGN

— Chanel tshena (@Chanel_T1) July 5, 2017

The blaze broke out on Wednesday morning and the cause of the fire is not yet clear.

Four people have been rescued from building & treated for smoke inhalation. Firefighters curretly damping down hotspots.Pic @md_mabelebelepic.twitter.com/McOUvuEhX6

— City of Joburg EMS (@CityofJoburgEMS) July 5, 2017

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