Cape Town – A massive explosion that occurred in Johannesburg’s CBD on Wednesday reportedly resulted in one fatality as a man’s body was found near the explosion site, apparently trapped under the rubble of a taxi.
Additionally, 41 people were injured, with two of them in critical condition at the hospital reports said.
“We recovered the body of a male around the area where the incident happened,” the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi was quoted as saying.
The explosion caused a sinkhole in the road and overturned numerous vehicles, with a total of 37 vehicles, mostly minibus taxis, being damaged.
One person has now died after an explosion ripped through Bree Street in the Johannesburg city centre. EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi says they can not rule out the possibility of finding more bodies but they’re doing their best to manage the situation.https://t.co/0JcYlGDYk3 pic.twitter.com/CcQeFCGzwg
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 20, 2023
The cause of the explosion remains unknown, and the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services is currently investigating.
Egoli Gas, a gas company, said that the explosion was unlikely caused by a gas pipeline or leak in their network, as there was no pressure loss in their pipelines.
Speculation about illegal mining in the area has been raised, but no official cause has been confirmed yet.
Meanwhile, authorities have urged the public to stay away from the area to allow emergency services to respond.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
