SEVERAL people have reportedly been injured following an underground gas explosion in the Joburg CBD.
ER24 emergency services said the City of Joburg EMS, Disaster Management and several other services responded to the scene after receiving reports of a gas explosion in Bree Street.
“On scene, medics and rescue personnel discovered several overturned vehicles along the road, which seemed to have been split wide open.
“Medics set up a triage area a safe distance away, while Fire and Disaster Services evacuated the general area,” ER24 said.
The emergency service said reports from the scene showed several people had sustained minor to moderate injuries.
“The patients were treated for their injuries and later transported by various services to nearby hospitals.
“The exact details surrounding this incident are unknown, but the relevant authorities are on the scene for further investigations,” ER24 said.
Meanwhile, the Joburg Roads Agency (JRA) announced emergency road closures following the explosion in Bree Street.
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The following roads are closed:
- Simmonds Street and Bree Street
- Harrison Street and Bree Street
- Loveday Street (both sides).
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) reacted following the explosion.
In a statement, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng said it was deeply concerned about the recent explosion in the City of Joburg Central Business District (CBD), specifically around Joubert and Bree Street.
“This explosion has caused serious damage to the city infrastructure and properties involved in the scene.
“While the cause of this unfortunate incident is currently unknown, we urge all residents and motorists to exercise extreme caution and prioritise their safety by avoiding the affected areas. We are in contact with relevant authorities to gather more information about the incident and to ensure that necessary measures are taken to prevent any further harm,” the party said.
EFF further called on the city and provincial emergency services, Department of Roads and Infrastructure, Disaster Management Services and Joburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) to intervene quickly and investigate the cause of this tragedy.
