Early in the morning, the tanker became wedged under a bridge, near homes and a hospital.
Nine people were killed and 40 others injured when a tanker carrying gas exploded in Boksburg, about 40 kilometers east of Johannesburg, emergency services said.
Early in the morning, the tanker became wedged under a bridge, near homes and a hospital.
“We got a call around 7.50. Firefighters set out to put out a fire that had just broken out. Unfortunately, the tanker exploded,” William Dlandy, the spokesman for the region’s disaster response agency, told AFP.
Amateur videos posted on social networking sites show the moment of the explosion and a huge ball of fire below the bridge. The vehicle was obviously too high and could not pass through that point. It carried around 60,000 liters of LPG, which is mainly used in ovens and kitchens. The driver was injured and is being treated.
Of the 40 injured, 19 are hospitalized in critical condition. Another 15 have been seriously injured but their condition is considered stable. Among the injured are six firefighters.
RES-EMP
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