In South Africa, a fire at a retirement home has left 18 people dead. Emergency officials said several more were injured in the blaze, which broke out last night south-east of Johannesburg. The cause of the fire, which gutted the Pieter Wessels retirement home in Nigel, is not yet known. Local media said some 84 residents were safely evacuated to a church, and several received medical treatment. The fire was reported by security guards who saw flames billowing from the building. Emergency services spokesman Chris Botha said the building was engulfed in flames and emergency personnel leaped into action to rescue the aged from the burning 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.