Over half of the 77 SA fire victims still unidentified

The Gauteng Department of Health says that it has identified 18 more victims in addition to the initial 12, bringing the total number of bodies whose identities are known to 30.

Motalatale Modiba, the spokesperson of the Gauteng Department of Health, said that the additional bodies were identified through forensic digital analysis of salvaged fingerprints of the victims and examinations of bodies by their family members.

However, Mr Modiba revealed that 44 of the total 77 bodies recovered from the fire are still unidentified.

He told local media that they are currently conducting DNA analyses on 38 of the remaining 44 bodies to uncover their identities.

Mr Modiba also said that 27 survivors are still being treated in hospital.