A gas tanker exploded in Hospital Road, Plantation, this morning at around 07:15 leaving behind scenes of chaos and destruction and claiming several lives.

According to Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Services (DEMS) spokesperson William Ntladi, who is on the scene, eight people are confirmed dead and six firefighters are among the many casualties. Injured are being admitted to Tambo Memorial Hospital.

Children are among the dead.

“The scene is still unfolding, and we are establishing a command post and will give further information as it becomes available,” Ntladi said.

The area of the explosion is next to Tambo Memorial Hospital and the cordon around the scene has been widened as the area is deemed “highly unstable”.

The hospital suffered extensive damage to its Accident and Emergency department because of the blast. Two houses in the area caught fire but the blazes were extinguished. One fire truck was damaged and two private vehicles were burnt while scores of others were damaged.

The Boksburg Advertiser and Benoni City Times are in touch with hospital CEO Zenzo Ndabula. He has not yet confirmed any other damage or injuries at the hospital premises.

Initial reports indicate the truck got stuck under the low railway bridge and this is what led to the explosion. It is also reported the truck driver and a woman in a car close to the truck when it exploded are among the dead.

It is believed bystanders gathered at the bridge to take photos and see what was going when the truck exploded.

Journalists on scene are reporting horrific sights of injured people screaming in agony from serious burn wounds and a scene of utter chaos.

Residents say there were two consecutive blasts, the impact of which even buckled the nearby train tracks and shattered windows of houses in the area.