Three firefighters have lost their lives following a fire at the departments of Health and Human Settlements building in the Joburg CBD, Gauteng Infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo confirmed.
It was initially reported one firefighter had died when he fell from one of the top floors of the burning government building on Wednesday.
The firefighter was responding to the blaze at the building when he fell to his death.
As he lay on the ground, the gold foil he had been covered with kept blowing away. Next to his body was his helmet and oxygen tank.
Mamabolo, briefing the media, confirmed that two more firefighters had died trying to extinguish the deadly fire.
He also confirmed 13 health workers have also been
hospitalised.
Joburg MMC for Safety, Michael Sun, said the two firefighters had been trapped inside the building.
Sun said eight other firefighters have been admitted to hospital, seven with injuries of various degrees, while one was admitted for exhaustion.
Mamabolo also confirmed the building was “not compliant” in terms of health and safety regulations, saying that according to a report they received last week following a study which had been commissioned, the Bank of Lisbon building was only 21% compliant.
Ideally the building should be 85% or higher compliant.
Shocked onlookers had earlier watched on in horror when a firefighter fell from one of the top floors of the burning building.
Witnesses said the fire broke out on the top floor at around 10.30am.
The building also houses the Bank of Lisbon.