Marshalltown fire: 12 more bodies released
The Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed that the bodies of five more victims from the Marshalltown building fire have been released to their families.
Seven bodies were released on Monday.
Last week's fire at a building in the Johannesburg CBD left 77 people dead.
The department's spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said ante-mortem samples are taken from siblings, children or parents of the deceased to assist with identification.
"The South African Police Service Victim Identification Centre unit is currently processing DNA samples drawn from the 62 unidentifiable bodies and has already taken 36 Antemortem swabbing from the immediate family members.
"Once the samples are taken from the deceased and the family members, they will be cross referenced to match them as part of linking families with their deceased loved one."
Modiba added that police have drawn DNA samples of the 62 unidentifiable bodies.
"The South African Police Service Victim Identification Centre unit is currently processing DNA samples drawn from the 62 unidentifiable bodies and has already taken 36 Antemortem swabbing from the immediate family members.
"Once the samples are taken from the deceased and the family members, they will be cross referenced to match them as part of linking families with their deceased loved one."
To date, 12 identifiable bodies have been released to the families.
"Already, 12 families have identified their loved ones from the 12 identifiable bodies and all 12 have been released to the families for burial. Meanwhile, 31 people are still rehabilitating and receiving care in hospital after 88 patients were seen at various health facilities since the horrific fire," said Modiba.
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