ONE person has died and 41 others have been injured after an underground explosion in the Joburg CBD on Wednesday, 19 July.
The explosion caused panic, splitting a busy street open and leaving many vehicles damaged‚ with some blown off the road by the force of the blast.
Joburg emergency management service (EMS) spokesman Robert Mulaudzi, in a tweet, confirmed that a body had been recovered by firefighters while 41 others were treated for severe to minor injuries on the scene.
He said the body of a man had been recovered near where the explosion occurred.
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Mulaudzi said: “A total of 41 people were treated for serious to moderate and also minor injuries on site and were later transported to various healthcare facilities throughout the city of Johannesburg for further medical care.”
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said Egoli Gas technicians found a minor leak from a 100m gas pipe and said investigations into the cause of the explosion were still underway.
JMPD spokesman Xoalni Fihla said several roads would be closed in the Joburg CBD due to the explosion.
He said: “Law enforcement officials from JMPD and police have been deployed to cordon off the scene to ensure the safety of all and to divert traffic on the affected routes."
