South Africa counts damage, dying by tanker truck explosion

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa was coming to grips Sunday with the whole extent of the destruction and fatalities caused by a Xmas Eve tanker truck explosion close to Johannesburg as officers documented the demise toll soaring to 15.

The truck was carrying gasoline when it obtained caught beneath a minimal-lying bridge in the city of Boksburg, on Saturday, sparking flames. As firefighters labored to extinguish the flames the tanker exploded, according to crisis expert services officials..

A “fire bomb” from the explosion significantly ruined Tambo Memorial Clinic, situated about 100 meters (110 yards) absent, authorities reported. A few clinic personnel members were being among people killed, Minister of Health and fitness Joe Phaahla reported.

The hospital’s emergency unit and X-ray division had been poorly destroyed, he reported.

Citizens who had gathered to see the burning truck fled from the explosion, some with their clothes burned off, witnesses instructed the News24 information web site. At the very least 321 hurt individuals were taken to the broken clinic, even though some were later on transferred to other Johannesburg-area hospitals.

Several properties and automobiles were also harmed by the explosion, according to officials.

“A fireball in the sky,” is how resident Rolf Bjornstad described the explosion to Information24.

“There was warmth coming into the property. I thought of my spouse, young ones, and encouraging the afflicted individuals,” he stated.

The tanker truck transporting liquefied petroleum gasoline — employed in homes and industries for heating and cooking — was en route to Botswana from South Africa’s Indian Ocean port of Richards Bay, said officials. Concerns were being currently being asked about why the tanker was on an indirect area route and not on a key highway.

The incident will be investigated, explained Tania Campbell, the mayor of Ekurhuleni, the municipality which involves Boksburg.