Johannesburg- The number of fatalities resulting from a fire that swept through a five-story building in central Johannesburg on Thursday has now reached 63, as confirmed by the city's emergency services.

Robert Mulaudzi, the spokesperson for the Emergency Management Services, informed that an additional 43 people who were injured have been transported to various healthcare facilities.

Firefighters successfully managed to extinguish the flames, and the process of searching for and recovering bodies is currently ongoing. Mulaudzi stated that teams are methodically progressing through each floor to locate and retrieve victims, with expectations that the death toll will see further increases.

The exact cause of the overnight fire that occurred is not yet apparent.

The building, which has been emptied of its occupants, is situated in an underprivileged section of what was formerly South Africa's economic center. According to Mulaudzi, the structure was repurposed as an informal settlement.

Television broadcasts displayed fire trucks and ambulances stationed near the red and white building. Its windows were scorched, and the police had established a restricted area around it.