Truck with liquified fuel explodes in South Africa, at the least eight killedYesterday

A truck carrying liquified petroleum fuel has exploded within the South African city of Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, killing at the least 8 individuals and injuring 50 others on Saturday, officers stated.

The highest of the truck scraped a low-lying bridge, sparking flames that prompted the explosion, in accordance with emergency providers officers.

Video footage shared by residents on social media confirmed the dramatic explosion, with pedestrians operating away from the blaze and vehicles dramatically dashing away. A number of homes and autos have been broken by the explosion, in accordance with native stories.

The tanker was reportedly delivering fuel to the close by O.R. Tambo Memorial Hospital, the place a number of the injured have been handled. Sufferers in some models on the hospital needed to be evacuated due to the explosion and fireplace, in accordance with native media stories.

“Strolling by way of right here was only a sight of absolute devastation, I’ve by no means seen one thing like this ever earlier than,” native resident Simon Lapping, informed the native Citizen newspaper. He stated he noticed the our bodies of six adults and two kids.

The incident shall be investigated, stated Tania Campbell, the mayor of Ekurhuleni, the municipality which incorporates Boksburg.

“The catastrophe administration cluster is on-site aiding the victims of this tragedy and assessing the reason for the accident,” she stated. “On behalf of the town, the workplace of the chief mayor commits itself to aiding all role-players in making certain {that a} complete investigation takes place and those that are liable are delivered to guide.”