- The death toll from the Boksburg gas tanker explosion now stands at 15.
- Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the children and three staff members at Tambo Memorial Hospital were among the dead.
- He said the driver “anticipated trouble” moments before the deadly explosion and tried to warn people to stay away from the truck.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla confirmed Sunday that the death toll from Saturday’s gas tanker explosion in Boksburg rose to 15.
He said one family had lost four relatives in the incident.
Phaahla said three staff members, a driver and two nurses, from Tambo Memorial Hospital were among the fatalities.
In total, he said 24 patients and 13 staff members who were in the hospital’s emergency unit at the time of the blast suffered severe burns. All of them were transferred to neighboring hospitals.
The truck carrying liquefied petroleum gas exploded after catching fire when it got stuck under a bridge about 100 meters from the hospital.
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Phaahla said the driver was not injured in the incident because he “anticipated trouble” moments before the deadly explosion.
“The information, if true, knowing what he was carrying… anticipated trouble, and it was alleged that he actually tried to warn people to stay away.” [away]. That is the story one is getting.
“The police would be much more familiar with the whereabouts [of the driver].”
On Sunday, Phaahla and Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko were at the hospital to assess the infrastructure and medical equipment that was damaged as a result of the truck explosion.
It said major structural damage was reported at the scene of the accident and in the hospital’s emergency unit and X-ray departments.
“The emergency and radiology departments are not accessible until the structural engineers have done their job,” Phaahla said.
“By the end of next week, there will be a high-level report that will cover various areas to give an idea of the state of the hospital and what kind of work will need to be done to get the facility up and running.”
He said the hospital was not accepting new patients.
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