Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is expected to visit the site of a huge explosion in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.
A number of people were confirmed dead and at least six firefighters hospitalised following the explosion on Saturday morning.
Explosion
Ekurhuleni Emergency Management Services (EMS) said a gas tanker allegedly got stuck under a bridge and caught fire.
It’s understood that the tanker exploded as the firefighters were busy extinguishing the flames.
Lesufi to visit site
Lesufi’s spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga said the premier will visit the explosion site near the Tambo Memorial Hospital on Saturday.
“The explosion resulted in 10 fatalities, injuring approximately 50 people.”
“Premier Lesufi will be joined by Department of Cooperative Governance (CoGTA), Transport and Logistics and Infrastructure Development MEC’s Mzi Khumalo, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela and Lebogang Maile, respectively,” Mhaga said.
Tambo Memorial Hospital damaged
According to Emer-G-Med, the Tambo Memorial Hospital was severely affected by the blast and is not accepting any patients.
“It is unconfirmed if anyone was injured within the hospital,” it added
Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development, Lebogang Maile, is also expected to visit Tambo Memorial Hospital.
ALSO READ: ‘Devastation second to none’ in Boksburg after gas tanker explosion
Ekurhuleni councillor Simon Lapping told The Citizen, the site of the explosion is “devastation second to none”.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before and I cannot believe the trauma that’s happened like this the day before Christmas,” Lapping added.
Investigation
Lapping said he is certain there will be an investigation into the explosion.
“There must be a serious investigation into how a truck carrying LP Gas can go under a low-level bridge. Normally these trucks are not permitted to do so.”
Gas pipeline
There is a Prasa gas pipeline near where the explosion happened. Authorities at the scene said the pipeline is not secure and have cordoned off the area.
An explosives team arrived at the scene and the area has been evacuated.
Additional reporting by: Hein Kaiser and Gareth Cotterell
ALSO READ: WATCH: Massive gas tanker explosion in Boksburg leaves several dead, many injured
