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 9pm [on Sunday] and left 18 people dead and 84 were rescued,” spokesperson Chris Botha said.
Those who survived the fire were evacuated to the local church where paramedics treated them.
After the blaze was extinguished firemen searched the building and found the bodies of 17 of the elderly residents.
Another person died of a heart attack after being taken to the church.
A man, who suffered burns to 40% of his body, was airlifted to the Charlotte Maxeke hospital.
Two others with serious injuries were taken to hospitals in the area.
The cause of the fire was not yet known, said Botha. – Sapa