Medics fear more fire deaths
2008-07-22 14:22
Verashni Pillay
Pretoria - Paramedics on Tuesday afternoon feared that the death toll may climb, as emergency workers comb Kruger Park flats in Pretoria after a fire broke out in the building earlier in the day.
Police confirmed that two people were killed while Netcare 911 said they had declared four people dead at the scene. The bodies were so badly mutilated after an apparent fall that the sex of two of them could not be determined.
Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson Johan Pieterse said emergency workers were yet to sweep the building on Struben Street. "Once that has been covered we can give out figures," he said.
A fire began at about 11:00 on the 20th floor of the high-rise block of flats. Police spokesperson Inspector Daniel Mabimbela told News24 that the fire was put out at about 12:30.
Paramedics were still on the scene treating people for smoke inhalation. About six people were hospitalised, according to Pieterse.
Netcare 911 spokesperson Nick Dollman said the four who plunged to their deaths fell from a great height, probably from the 20th floor where the fire began or higher. "They sustained brutal injuries," he said.
Helicopter rescue
Police and army helicopters were still rescuing people from the roof of the flats and about 15 had been airlifted to safety, according to Mabimbela.
Smaller police helicopters were landing on the roof while larger army helicopters were letting officials down to hoist people up one at a time.
Mabimbela said he could not confirm reports that the fire had been started by residents of Kruger Park, after Red Ants security guards began evicting their neighbours in the Schubart Park block earlier on Tuesday.
Residents in Schubart Park flats, adjacent to Kruger Park flats, had been protesting against their eviction.
At about 13:30, the Red Ants continued to evict people who had defaulted on their rental payments at Schubart Park, Sapa reported.
"We cannot confirm as to why the fire started or who started it," said Mabimbela. "The police will investigate that."
- News24