DW News is reporting today about an overnight apartment block fire in South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg, which has killed at least 73 persons and injured more than 52 others. The blaze swept through a five-story building taken over for illegal housing. It’s unclear how the fire started.
Witnesses said that persons jumped from the building to escape the flames. Resident Irene Ntamba said that “some… got out through windows, [but] women and children were left behind and they died while inside.” Bodies of the deceased lined the side of the street.
The DW News article may be read HERE.
CNN is also reporting in this matter. Former Johannesburg mayor, Herman Mashaba, called the fire deaths devastating and totally unnecessary – telling CNN that hijacked buildings exist with the full knowledge of our national government.
The CNN article may be read HERE.
My brothers and sisters, let’s pray for the comfort that only the Lord can bring at a time such as this. Let’s pray for an end to the conditions resulting in unsafe housing and tragic fires. Government corruption, negligence or simply choosing to “look the other way” can quickly escalate into tragedy.
So much of the world, including the United States, needs to better deal with the influx of immigrants (legal or otherwise) and the homeless or destitute. The failure of civil government to act responsibly, when appropriate and needed, is so very important. Lives are at stake.
Praise Jesus forevermore!