At least 15 people have died, and around 40 sustain various degrees of injury after a fuel tanker exploded close to a hospital in Johannesburg.
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| South African Police Service (SAPS) officers and forensic experts stand beside bodies following a fuel tanker explosion in Boksburg, South Africa. Photo: AFP via DAILY SABAH |
The tanker looked like it got stuck under a low bridge on Saturday morning in the city of Boksburg about 100m from Tambo Memorial Hospital.
The truck was loaded with liquid petroleum gas.
After a section of the roof fell following the explosion, several patients were evacuated from the hospital’s casualty.
William Ntladi, emergency services spokesperson, said, “apparently, a gas tanker drove under the subway bridge and got stuck in there, and due to friction, it caught alight,”
There was a massive second explosion as firefighters tried to extinguish the fire.
According to AFP, there are fears the death toll could rise, as 19 people are in critical condition and 15 others are stable but seriously hurt.
