Firefighters on Friday battled a massive building fire at the corner of Anton Lembede and Brook Streets in the Durban Central Business District.
First responders said though there was a language barrier as most of the occupants are Chinese, as many as 13 people have been evacuated and treated for injuries ranging from minor to moderate.
Ethekwini Fire and Rescue services together with Metro Police and SA Police Service Search and Rescue had to use high-rise ladders to gain access to rescue them from the burning China Mall.
“One person sustained moderate injuries after attempting to escape the fire and jumping out one of the windows,” said ALS Paramedics Medical Services.
“He was stabilised on the scene before being transported to a nearby Durban hospital for further treatment.”
By lunchtime, the search was still continuing for people who may still be trapped in the building.
Emer-G-Med said all the other rescued people were treated for injuries ranging from minor to moderate and taken to various nearby hospitals for further medical care.
The cause of the fire was still unknown.