15 people were killed in a liquefied gas tank explosion in South Africa

The bridge where the liquefied gas tank exploded in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.

EPA

The death toll from the explosion of a liquefied gas tanker in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, has risen to 15, the South African Minister of Health announced yesterday morning.

"The death toll was 10 dead on Saturday, and on Sunday it became 15 dead," Joe Bala said, in an interview with reporters at a hospital near the scene of the explosion.

William Ntlady, a spokesman for the emergency department in this region, told AFP on Saturday night that the death toll had risen Saturday evening to 10 dead and about 40 wounded.

He explained that half of the wounded were in serious condition, and 15 others were seriously injured, but in stable condition, while six firefighters sustained minor injuries.

Early yesterday, the truck was stuck under a bridge near a hospital and homes in a residential neighborhood.

"We got a call around 07.50 and the firefighters went out to put out the start of a fire, but then the truck exploded unfortunately," Ntlady said.

In amateur videos posted on social media, a huge fireball is seen exploding under the bridge.

It seems that the height of the tanker truck did not allow it to cross the place.

The spokesman added that the tank was filled with 60,000 liters of liquefied gas, used mainly in stoves, and arrived from the southeast of the country, explaining that the truck driver was injured and taken to hospital.

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