Johannesburg, South Africa (CNN) -- Eighteen elderly residents died Sunday night after a fire broke out at a Nigel, South Africa nursing home, according an emergency services spokesman.
Chris Botha, a Netcare (911) Limited spokesman, said another 84 residents escaped the flames. Three of those were taken to hospitals for serious injuries.
When paramedics and firefighters arrived, the building was engulfed in flames and emergency personnel worked to rescue the elderly from the burning building.
After the blaze was extinguished, firefighters found 17 victims had died in the inferno. Another resident died of a suspected heart attack after being transported to a safe holding area at a local church, Botha said.
Many of the elderly were disabled, according to news reports from the South African Press Association.
CNN
