Barbados: Prime Minister of Barbados- Mia Amor Mottley, extended condolences to the victims of the building fire in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday.
While calling it “heartbreaking”, PM Mia Mottley said that the scenes coming out from the fire are truly disturbing. She also extended her support to the families and the people of South Africa.
A fire erupted in a five-storey building taken over for illegal housing on Thursday. It has killed 74 people, including 12 children, in central Johannesburg overnight, South African authorities said.
PM Mia Amor Mottley said, “The scenes coming out from the fire in Johannesburg, South Africa are simply heartbreaking. My prayers, condolences and my support, go to the victims, their families and the people of South Africa, as they navigate this tragedy which has already claimed the lives of 73 people.“
As per the reports, an additional 61 were injured and treated in hospital in one of the deadliest fires worldwide in recent years. The security forces discovered the piled up bodies at the security gate that was closed, preventing people from escaping the blaze, an official said.
In a news conference at the site of the fire, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the government will investigate the matter perfectly. Everyone should learn the lesson from the incident to prevent future tragedies.
“It’s a wake-up call for us to begin to address the situation of housing in the inner city,” the South African leader said.
The building is used as the home of the abused women and children, but once the lease expired, it was “hijacked”, President Ramaphosa explained to reporters.
Many properties around the area where the blaze happened have been deemed unfit to live in.
Further, PM Mia Amor Mottley also extended condolences for the loss of lives in the passing of Hurricane Idalia in the US. She said that the issue of the climate crisis must be addressed attentively.
“I also pray for the lives lost and those affected following the passage of Hurricane Idalia in the US. The scenes of the aftermath are a frightening reminder of what many of us will face in this climate crisis. The fact is, greater climate action is needed, now more than ever, “said the prime minister.
