Authorities and rescue services reported on Thursday that a suspected subterranean gas explosion ripped apart highways and flipped automobiles in the heart of South Africa’s largest metropolis, killing one man and wounding at least 41 others.
Authorities said an explosion ripped wide highways and flipped more than 20 automobiles in South Africa’s largest city on Wednesday.
The injured were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to officials. Other individuals were evacuated from the vicinity owing to worries of a second explosion or the collapse of multi-story buildings in a decrepit downtown district of the city.
The corpse of the deceased was discovered during a midnight search of the blast location, according to Johannesburg’s Emergency Management Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi on Twitter.
An investigation was underway, with municipal officials bringing in experts to establish whether there were any more subterranean pipes or wires in the vicinity, as well as whether there was a risk of another explosion or gas leak.
The source of the bomb, which occurred during the evening rush hour in downtown Johannesburg on Wednesday, remained unknown. The business that delivers gas to that area of town stated it did not believe its subterranean pipelines were to blame, as officials initially suspected.
“Buildings are in danger of collapsing,” said Panyaza Lesufi, head of Gauteng province, which includes Johannesburg. “The damage is extensive.”
While gas was suspected as the origin of the explosion on downtown Johannesburg’s popular Bree Street, Lesufi said it was unclear if the gas came from a leak in the city’s subterranean pipelines or from another, unknown source.
In a statement, Johannesburg gas supplier Egoli Gas claimed it was unlikely that one of their pipes was to blame. The business stated that there was no disruption in supply in the region and that its investigations discovered no leaks.
Glamour Adah
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