A woman (77) has died following a fire that swept through several units at the Heldersig Complex in Parys on Sunday morning.

According to a media statement issued by the Office of the Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, police responded to reports of a fire at the residential complex at approximately 10:00 on Sunday 5 July.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found that about four units had been engulfed in flames. Firefighters were on site and working to contain the blaze while emergency personnel secured the area.

Once the fire had been brought under control and extinguished, emergency teams searched the affected units. During the search, the body of the woman was found inside one of the residences. She was certified dead at the scene.

Parys police have opened an inquest docket to establish the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death and the cause of the fire.

Police have not released the identity of the deceased, and no information has been provided regarding the possible cause of the blaze.

Investigations remain ongoing as detectives continue gathering evidence and interviewing potential witnesses.

Authorities have urged anyone with information that may assist the investigation to contact the Parys police office.

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