The death toll from a fuel tanker explosion in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, has risen to 15, South Africa’s Health Minister Joe Phaahla confirmed on Sunday.
The explosion occurred after a tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) became lodged beneath a bridge near a hospital and residential houses. Emergency services received a call around 7:50 a.m. local time reporting the tanker stuck under the bridge. Firefighters responded to extinguish the flames, but the tanker subsequently exploded.
One of the injured was the tanker driver, who was taken to hospital. Videos shared by residents showed pedestrians fleeing the scene and vehicles speeding away from the blaze. Several homes and vehicles were damaged.
Some patients at the nearby OR Tambo Memorial Hospital, where the tanker was delivering gas, had to be evacuated, and some of the injured were treated there. Of the 40 people injured, 19 are in critical condition, 15 are seriously hurt but stable, and six firefighters sustained minor injuries.
Resident Simon Lapping described the scene as devastating, noting he saw the bodies of six adults and two children.
The tanker was carrying 60,000 litres of LPG, primarily used for cooking. The Ekurhuleni municipality, which includes Boksburg, said the incident will be investigated. Mayor Tania Campbell stated that the disaster management team is assisting victims and assessing the cause, adding that those responsible will be held accountable.
