- Police arrested the driver of a gas tanker truck after it exploded in Boksburg, killing 15.
- Three staff members, a driver and two nurses, from Tambo Memorial Hospital were among the dead.
- Health Minister Joe Phaahla and Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko were at the hospital to assess the damage.
Police said Sunday that the 32-year-old driver has been charged with multiple counts of manslaughter, negligent causing an explosion resulting in death, and malicious damage to property.
Preliminary investigations suggest the gas tanker got stuck trying to cross a low bridge and the impact caused the explosion, police say. The tanker was apparently traveling from Richards Bay to Botswana.
The driver had not been injured in the incident. On Sunday, Health Minister Joe Phaahla said: “The information, if true, knowing what she was carrying… anticipated trouble, and it was alleged that she actually tried to warn people to stay away.” [away]. That’s the story you’re getting.”
Dozens were injured during the incident on Saturday. Fifteen people, including a 10-year-old boy, have died. 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 dead.
A destroyed fire truck attending the scene of a fuel tanker explosion.
An estimated 24 patients and 13 staff members were in the hospital’s emergency unit at the time of the explosion and 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, News24 reported on Sunday.
On Sunday, Phaahla and Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko were at the hospital to assess the infrastructure and medical equipment damaged as a result of the truck explosion.
It said major structural damage was reported at the scene of the accident, as well as in the emergency unit and X-ray departments of the hospital.
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