Joburg fire | Survivors recount horror escape from flames

JOHANNESBURG - Police continue investigations into Joburg building fire that claimed more than 70 lives.

Among them were 12 children, including one of the youngest, a 15-month-old baby.

"I'm grateful to be alive, there was a lot of us running, trying to find the fire exit and a lot of people eventually died because of the smoke inhalation," said Kenny Bupe, a survivor caught up in the blaze while visiting a friend.
 

Another survivor, Tom, lost two brothers in the fire.

"I jumped from the fourth floor down,” he said.

"I tried my best to tell my brothers there’s a fire. One of them followed me through the window but two others died."
 

Another survivor said his sister and her children perished in the fire.

"By the time the fire came my sister didn’t try to come out because the fire was a lot so she stayed inside with the kids. I lost my sister and her kid," he said.

Witnesses spoke of parents throwing their babies out into the street, hoping to save them.

- Additional reporting AFP