Eighteen elderly people were killed and several others injured when a fire broke out at an old age home in Nigel, Netcare911 paramedics said on Monday.
“A fire at the Pieter Wessels old age home in Nigel broke out at around 21:00 (on Sunday) and left 18 people dead and 84 were rescued,” spokesperson Chris Botha said.
Those who survived the furnace were evacuated to the local church where paramedics were treating them.
A man was also airlifted to Charlotte Maxeke hospital with 40% burns.
After the blaze was extinguished, firemen searched the building and found 17 of the elderly residents dead in the inferno.
Another person died of a heart attack after being taken to the church.
Two others who sustained serious injuries were taken to hospitals in the area.
The cause of the fire was not yet known.
– SAPA