Cape Town – A truck carrying explosives caught fire on the N1 highway, about 10 kilometres north of Kroonstad, leading to the closure of the highway.
Multiple light motor vehicles were involved in the incident, and three people sustained minor injuries, reports said on Wednesday.
A truck carrying “explosives” on fire on N1 10km N of KROONSTAD.
Fire Services and other emergency services on scene.
Traffic Diverted from KROONSTAD to R721 Vredefort
From Koppies to R82, Rooiwal, Heuningspruit back to N1 KROONSTAD.@Thibos_Mokone @LesediFM @_ArriveAlive
— Sipho Towa (@SiphoTowa) December 25, 2024
Sipho Towa, spokesperson for Free State Emergency Medical Services (EMS), confirmed to SABC News after 6 pm that the truck remained at the scene, although an explosives specialist had arrived, according to The Citizen.
“We are also waiting for a crane to lift the second trailer of the truck, so at the moment, the road remains closed until the containers have been secured and the specialist of explosives can confirm that there isn’t danger that the truck will explode,” Towa said.
Truck Carrying Explosives Catches Fire on N1 Highway Near Kroonstad https://t.co/Aavqx2s5CU #ArriveAlive #DangerousGoods @fs_health pic.twitter.com/Wf4uzH7gfp
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) December 25, 2024
Emergency services, including fire and explosives specialists, worked to control the fire and secure the truck.
Traffic was diverted from Kroonstad to alternative routes, and the road remained closed as experts ensured no further danger of explosion.
The fire was under control but not fully extinguished.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
