3rd LD-Writethru: Death toll rises to 74 in South Africa's Johannesburg building fire

JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- The death toll, caused by a building fire in the central business district of Johannesburg, South Africa, has risen to 74, local authorities said on Thursday.

"A total of 74 people perished when the flat they were staying in caught fire and left over 200 families homeless," said Floyd Blink, Johannesburg city manager, at a media briefing on Thursday afternoon.