At least 10 dead after explosion destroys South African hospital as chilling screams heard
The truck exploded next to the OR Tambo Hospital in northeastern South Africa, causing patients to scramble to safety.
South Africa: Gas carrier explodes in Boksburg
At least 10 people have been killed in a small city to the west of Johannesburg, South Africa after a gas truck exploded into a huge fireball by a hospital. Horrifying footage showed people burning in the streets of Boksburg in the aftermath as they screamed for help. A total of 27 people and counting have been injured by the explosion. The truck, reported to have been carrying liquid petroleum gas, blew up after it struck a low-lying bridge.
The explosion in the #Boksburg area has severely damaged #Tambo Memorial Hospital (@GautengHealth).
— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) December 24, 2022
It is unknown if anyone was hurt inside the facility. #SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/JmZlkwf5D2
First responders to the scene in Boksburg said that a number of people have been severely burned. One local report suggested that body parts were strewn throughout the nearby streets.
The incident took place “a few metres” from the OR Tambo Hospital, which is now on fire itself, according to news channel Citizen.
Dozens of people could be screaming for help outside of the hospital following the incident.
Kyle van Reenen, a spokesperson for Emer-G-Med, which is the local ambulance service, said several people have died with many more critically injured.
The current state of the Railway Street Bridge following the gas tanker explosion in #Boksburg. #Gauteng #SouthAfrica #Tambo pic.twitter.com/GDIV94P9XQ
— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) December 24, 2022
Harrowing footage of the aftermath shows one man shouting “I’m blind, sir, please help” as he stands in the street, his clothes black and charred.
The man behind the camera shouts “go to hospital” as he rushes to attend to people further down the street.
At least four other people are then seen screaming for help on the corner of one road as smoke rises from their bodies.
One victim appears to be desperately rolling around in the grass to try to cool down.
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Footage of the incident showed the truck on fire beneath the Railway Street Bridge, after which its entire tank catches alight, causing a seismic explosion.
A loud bang can be heard as passers-by frantically flee the scene. According to Ekurhuleni emergency services, the explosion “ripped the railway bridge completely off".
The truck is believed to have caught fire after the roof of the gas tanker scraped along the bottom of a bridge, causing fuel to leak.
It is believed the initial crash with the bridge set off the fire, which subsequently caused a huge explosion when the whole tanker caught alight.
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Footage of the truck moments before the explosion shows it completely struck underneath the bridge.
Three or four cars were also severely damaged after the gas tanker caught alight.
Paramedics and multiple emergency service agencies are currently at the scene on Railway Street in Boksburg.
“At this stage we can confirm there have been multiple people left with critical injuries and several fatalities,” said Kyle van Reenen, Emer-G-Med spokesperson.
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