Chaos erupted after a LP gas tanker explosion in Plantation, Boksburg yesterday, after the tanker got stuck under a low-lying bridge in Hospital Road. Since the explosion, that killed at least 10 people and injured several others, information about the truck, its driver and how the community is rallying behind victims have been revealed.

Ekurhuleni Mayor Tania Campbell and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi visited the site yesterday afternoon.

In a media statement, the mayor offered her sincere condolences to the families of victims.

“Our hearts go out to those who are seriously injured and who are being attended to by our emergency response teams. On behalf of the city, the office of the executive mayor commits itself to assisting all role-players in ensuring that a comprehensive investigation takes place and those who are liable are brought to book,” Campbell said.

The operational outsourcing services company whose driver was behind the wheel of the tanker confirmed that they driver is not deceased but is in hospital.

ISS Managing Director Arnoux Maré told Boksburg Advertiser their own specialist investigative team was en route to the accident scene and very close to where the tanker was stuck under the bridge when the explosion occurred. None of the team were injured.

He explains the truck belongs to the Infinite Group, a long-standing client of ISS.

“While much of this tragic incident is unclear and unexplainable at this time, we do know that the truck driver contacted the control room when the vehicle got stuck under the bridge.

“What we have gathered is that the vehicle lodged under the bridge at 06:15. At around 06:45 a burn started on the truck and about 15 minutes later there was an explosion,” Maré says.

“Judging by this, it is possible – but not confirmed – that the driver was not in the vehicle at the time of the explosion.”

Maré says they are not sure of the driver’s injuries at this stage.

“We initially heard the driver was treated for shock but that his condition deteriorated. Unconfirmed reports are that his condition is serious. We are in contact with the hospital where he is being treated.

“ISS’ internal investigation has already established that the driver is highly experienced, with a professional driving qualification in working at heights and seven years of experience in transporting hazardous materials. The driver had also recently passed a medical test confirming his fitness to drive.

“We also know the vehicle was roadworthy; in good condition and checked daily. It was inspected and released in good condition to be transporting the load of gas. What is unclear is what happened at the moment of the accident.”

According to Maré, the driver left from a designated truck stop in Boksburg en route to ‘the north’ (which may have been cross-border). He had overnighted at the truck stop where he had eight hours sleep and a meal before embarking on the rest of his route.

He could not confirm for what reason the vehicle had taken the Hospital Road bridge route, adding all vehicles use GPS.

“Perhaps he had been re-routed due to traffic,” Maré says. “We will speak to the driver to hear his version of events as soon as we are able to.”

The vehicle’s camera system was destroyed in the blast but the ISS specialised investigative team were on scene scouring for debris that can help the investigation.

Maré adds they are fully co-operating with the authorities in their investigation.

“We believe the authorities acted swiftly and precisely in dealing with this incident and they have our full support,” he says.

“We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the families of the deceased, as well as to those who were injured. Our hearts truly go out to all victims of the explosion, and we would like to offer our complete reassurance that we are performing an urgent internal and independent investigation to determine the true cause of the accident.

“The health and safety of our employees, clients and the public are our top priority, and we are taking this incident extremely seriously.

“We are absolutely devastated that this has happened,” Maré concludes.

What else we know so far: 

• 10 people are deceased.
• Tambo Memorial Hospital reported 37 casualties – 13 were staff members of the hospital. There were 16 priority one patients and 21 priority two patients. 36 patients were transferred to other facilities from Tambo Memorial.
• The hospital’s A & E ward was extremely damaged in the explosion and several windows in other wards were damaged, including the ICU, and also the main kitchen.
• SAPS Provincial Commissioner Elias Mawela confirmed they have deployed the bomb squad to ascertain whether any further explosions were possible.
• K-9 units were on scene to search the rubble.
• The community of Plantation and surrounds have rallied around the victims and their families. Anyone who wants to support their efforts or donate to assist the families, victims or hospital staff, can make contact with Urban Ruins, in Maple Avenue, Plantation (074 905 7269 / leigh@urbanruins.co.za).
• There has been a call for blood donations to assist the victims. Visit www.sanbs.co.za to find your nearest donor centre.
• Boksburg SPCA were on the ground going door to door to take care of animals affected by the explosion. Manager Vicky Finnemore said this afternoon they had found four strays and one dog with singed fur. They had not come across any badly injured animals at that stage but were looking for injured wildlife and birds too.