Another 52 were injured, some suffering from smoke inhalation, and were taken for treatment at local hospitals, Emergency Management Services spokesman Robert Mulaudzi said.

He said the death toll has reached 73 fatalities while 52 injured people were transported to various healthcare facilities for further medical care. At least seven children were among those killed by the flames, in what is on track to become one of the deadliest fires worldwide in recent years.

Firefighters at the scene have put out the flames and are “busy with damping down the scene”, while search and recovery operations are ongoing, Mulaudzi said.