South Africa

IN PICTURES | Bank of Lisbon building demolished

A series of spectacular pictures shows the last moments of the Joburg building that took the lives of three firefighters last year

24 November 2019 - 11:18 By Antonio Muchave and Iavan Pijoos
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A last look at the Bank of Lisbon building in Johannesburg that was demolished on Sunday morning.
A last look at the Bank of Lisbon building in Johannesburg that was demolished on Sunday morning.
Image: Antonio Muchave

A crowd of onlookers gathered in Johannesburg's city centre on Sunday morning to witness the demolition of the 31-storey Bank of Lisbon building that was declared unsafe after a deadly blaze swept through it last year, trapping and killing three firefighters.

Jabulile Sibeko, from Alberton on Johannesburg's East Rand, said it was an emotional moment to witness the collapse of the building.

“It is sad that a building that took so many years to build, can be demolished in less that five minutes.

“I have never seen an implosion before, so I brought my seven-year-old son and three-year-old daughter so that we can experience it together as a family.”

Below is a gallery of pictures depicting the building's last moments before it disappeared in a cloud of dust.

The implosion of the Bank of Lisbon building in Johannesburg starts.
The implosion of the Bank of Lisbon building in Johannesburg starts.
Image: Antonio Muchave
Seconds before the Bank of Lisbon building disappears into a dust cloud.
Seconds before the Bank of Lisbon building disappears into a dust cloud.
Image: Antonio Muchave
The Bank of Building collapses in a cloud of dust.
The Bank of Building collapses in a cloud of dust.
Image: Antonio Muchave
The site where the Bank of Lisbon building was demolished in Johannesburg on Sunday morning.
The site where the Bank of Lisbon building was demolished in Johannesburg on Sunday morning.
Image: Antonio Muchave
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