The death toll in an incident where a gas tanker exploded under a bridge in Railway Street, Boksburg south of Johannesburg, has risen to 10. Earlier today eight people were confirmed dead with two more passing away in hospital since.

Reports from the scene are that children were among the dead.

Several homes and Tambo Memorial Hospital were damaged in the blast. Tambo Memorial Hospital was not able to receive patients due to the damage.

Emer-G-Med spokesperson Kyle Van Reenen says that other than the fatalities, about 30 people sustained life threatening injuries.

Emer-G-Med and Netcare911 deployed aeromedical resources to assist with airlifting critically injured patients from the scene to specialist facilities.

Van Reenen says: “The many injured included a firefighter who suffered critical burn wounds.”

After it was initially reported that the driver of the truck was among those who lost their lives, it has now been established that he was rescued before the explosion and was taken to hospital to treat his injuries.

Ekurhuleni Emergency Services spokesperson William Ntladi says that there is a concern that hospital patients from Tambo Memorial Hospital would need to be evacuated because the explosion has caused structural damage at the hospital.

Horrific Boksburg explosion kills 10, multiple serious injuries

Several homes and Tambo Memorial Hospital were damaged in the blast. Tambo Memorial Hospital was not able to receive patients due to the damage.
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“We can confirm that a roof section (sic) at the hospital casualty department has collapsed,” Ntladi says.

He says the truck, carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LP), attempted to pass through a low-lying bridge, rammed into the bridge and got stuck.

“Apparently, a gas tanker drove under the subway bridge and got stuck in there, and due to friction, it caught alight,” says Ntladi.

Emergency services had attended the scene when the explosion happened.

Ntladi says six firefighters from Boksburg Central Fire Station were called to the scene to help extinguish the fire. The firefighters suffered injuries in the blast.

“While doing the fire suppression, there was an explosion that took place,” adds Ntladi.

An initial explosion attracted onlookers who were nearby when the second horrific explosion happened.

A fire engine and two motor vehicles were also destroyed in the explosion.