At least 52 people have been killed in a fire in a multi-storey building in South Africa's biggest city, authorities have said.
Officials said dozens more were also 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.The building in the central business district has been described as an"informal settlement" where homeless people had moved in looking for accommodation without a formal lease agreement.Firefighters evacuated occupants after arriving at the scene - but now, a search and recovery operation is under way.
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.This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the
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