2nd woman dies after jumping

2008-10-07 21:16

Johannesburg - A second woman who tried to escape a fire by jumping from the eighth floor of a block of flats in Berea has died, Johannesburg emergency services said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Percy Morokane said Sharon Mpofu, 18, died at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital due to injuries sustained from the fall.

Sharon Mpofu and her cousin, Patricia Mpofu, 24, jumped from a balcony during an attempt to escape from a fire inside their flat on Monday.

Both women are Zimbabwean nationals.

Morokane said a third woman, Nosiviwe Dube, 18, was recovering in hospital.

"Dube was not initially admitted until she complained about a pain in her leg. She is now at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital," he said.

Morokane said fire safety officers and police were still investigating the cause of the fire.

"We cannot confirm or deny the cause was due to an electrical fault. That is pure speculation," he said.

- SAPA