Fire at South Africa retirement home kills 18

A fire at a retirement home in South Africa has left 18 people dead. Several more were injured in the blaze, which broke out at around 2100 (1900 GMT), 50km (30 miles) south-east of Johannesburg. The cause of the fire, which gutted the Pieter Wessels retirement home in Nigel, is not yet known. Some 84 residents were safely evacuated to a church, local media said, and several received medical treatment. The fire was reported by security guards who saw flames billowing from the building. Emergency workers searched the home after the fire was extinguished and found the remains of 17 victims inside. An 18th resident died of a suspected heart attack shortly after having been evacuated from the building, reports said.