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Boksburg explosion

Coordinates: 26°13′08.4″S 28°14′36.7″E / 26.219000°S 28.243528°E / -26.219000; 28.243528
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Boksburg explosion
Map
Date24 December 2022 (2022-12-24)
Time6:00am–7:30am (SAST, GMT+2)
LocationBoksburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Coordinates26°13′08.4″S 28°14′36.7″E / 26.219000°S 28.243528°E / -26.219000; 28.243528
TypeFuel tanker explosion
Deaths18
Non-fatal injuries40

On 24 December 2022, a fuel tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) exploded underneath a railway bridge in Boksburg, in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa. Eight people were killed immediately, and 40 were injured – 19 critically.[1] 10 of the injured later died in hospital, bringing the death toll to 18 people as of 26 December 2022.[2] The nearby Tambo Memorial Hospital (TMH) was also damaged. The driver of the tanker survived the incident and faced multiple charges, including culpable homicide.[3][4] Questions have however been raised about the quality of the warning signage approaching the bridge, and about municipal compliance with transport regulations.[5][6]

Explosion

The truck belonged to Infinity Gas, a Boksburg-based company, and was carrying LPG from the Port of Richards Bay to Botswana.[7][5] It caught fire after getting stuck under a railway bridge spanning Hospital Street near its intersection with Railway Street, about 100 metres (328 ft) from the Tambo Memorial Hospital in the Boksburg suburb of Plantation.[8][7] Reports indicate that the tanker caught fire from sparks caused by friction when the top of the truck was forced underneath the bridge, which was too low for the truck to pass.[9] Having caught fire, the tanker initially exploded close to 06:00am SAST while firefighters were trying to contain the blaze. The initial explosion was quickly followed by two much smaller explosions.[10] This series of explosions attracted a large crowd of onlookers, resulting in a higher number of casualties and fatalities when a fourth explosion – the largest, and last – occurred roughly around 07:30am SAST.[11][12] The final explosion affected buildings up to 400 metres (1640 ft) away, and was felt as an earth tremor as far as 4 kilometres (2.4 mi) away.[13]

Impact

Casualties

18 people were killed.[2] 40 people were initially injured and hospitalised after the explosion, though the death toll includes some of those 40, who later succumbed to their wounds.[2][1] Eight people were killed immediately during the blast, or else succumbed before paramedics arrived on the scene. Among the initially injured, 19 had been in a critical condition.[14]

Tambo Memorial Hospital

The Tambo Memorial Hospital adjacent to the explosion was severely impacted. Eight staff members of the hospital (seven nurses and a driver) were killed in the carpark of the hospital,[15] and 24 patients and 13 staff members, present in the hospital's emergency unit at the time of the explosion, sustained severe burns and were transferred to other hospitals nearby.[4] The explosion resulted in the ceiling of the emergency unit partially collapsing which necessitated all patients being moved to the theatre complex at the back of the hospital. The hospital was unable to accept patients immediately after the blast.[16]

Nearby properties, vehicles and infrastructure

Two houses and a number of cars were destroyed in the explosion, as well as a fire truck that was attempting to extinguish the growing fire.[9] The explosion also destroyed the railway bridge underneath which it occurred, rendering the Germiston–Springs railway line inoperable. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) announced the following day that it had closed the line and would assess the extent of the damage, and the scope of the work necessary to restore the railway line.[17]

Emergency services

The initial response to the incident came from local security companies, the local Community Policing Forum (CPF)[a] and volunteer groups. On evaluation, the alarm was raised and Ekurhuleni Disaster & Emergency Management Services dispatched a fire truck from Boksburg Central fire station.

Evacuation of emergency patients

A secondary, medical evacuation operation to urgently move critical patients from the Tambo Memorial Hospital to other hospitals for further or palliative care was coordinated by the Gauteng Emergency Medical Services (Gauteng EMS), assisted by private ambulance services and volunteer groups. Lower priority patients were moved in the second phase of the evacuation. A total of 30 state and private ambulances as well as several air ambulance helicopters transferred the patients over a three-hour period.

Emergency services in attendance

A number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including Muslim Aid and the South African disaster relief NGO Gift of the Givers, arrived to assist throughout the day.

Responsibility and investigations

Arrest of truck driver

The day after the incident, police stated that the 32 year old driver, who received only minor injuries in the explosion, had been arrested at a local hospital and would face charges of reckless driving, negligence, and multiple counts of culpable homicide and malicious damage to property.[4][7] He is expected to appear before the Boksburg Magistrate's Court on 28 December 2022.[18]It was later reported that the driver was released without being charged as there was not enough evidence against him. [19]

Poor signage and calls for investigation

The height restriction warning sign, approaching the bridge from the direction the truck was being driven, was illegible due to weathering. According to Ekurhuleni mayoral spokesperson Warren Gwilt, responsibility for the bridge and warning signage belongs to Prasa.[5] The Department of Transport, which is responsible for Prasa, has however stated that heavy motor vehicles are not allowed on regional roads without a permit from the municipality, and GOOD MP Brett Herron questioned whether the Ekurhuleni municipality was abiding by the National Land Transport Act, which requires municipalities to plan routes for vehicles transporting dangerous goods.[5][6]

Amid claims of potential municipal or parastatal negligence, there have been calls for a thorough investigation to determine who is in fact responsible for the disaster.[5]

Internal company investigation

Innovative Staffing Solutions (ISS), the company that sourced the driver on behalf of Infinity Gas, began an "internal and independent" investigation into the circumstances surrounding the explosion. It stated the driver was highly qualified in working with heights and had seven years of experience transporting hazardous substances.[5]

Responses

Domestic responses

  • South African president Cyril Ramaphosa expressed concern over the high number of fatalities. He sent his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, saying "the nation's hearts go out to everyone affected".[20]
  • The Presiding Officers of the South African Parliament, lead by the Speaker of the National Assembly, have expressed their "heartfelt condolences to the families" of the hospital staff and others killed in the tragedy, while also wishing the injured a speedy recovery. Further stating that the "trauma and emotional suffering" of the affected families "is too harrowing to imagine", they commended "multidisciplinary efforts" by government departments, non-profit organisations and volunteer groups for "immediately springing into action to assist those in distress". They concluded that Parliament will intervene where necessary through its oversight committees and other constitutionally permissible mechanisms.[21]
  • The Democratic Alliance (DA), the political party which governs the Ekurhuleni municipality in which the tragedy unfolded, sent its condolences to the families of the deceased, and to everyone injured by the blast.[6]
  • The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a far-left political party, has called for the CEO of Infinity Gas, the company that owned the fuel tanker, to be arrested and held responsible for the deaths and damage to property. The EFF also called for the country's railways to be restored, saying it believes hazardous goods should not be transported over long distances by road in any case.[5][6]
  • The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has called for improved regulations on the transport of hazardous goods by road.[6]
  • The political party GOOD is of the view that the Ekurhuleni municipality has not abided by the National Land Transport Act.[6]

International responses

  •  Saudi Arabia: Through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government of Saudi Arabia expressed "regret" over the deaths and injuries caused by the disaster and extended its condolences to "the government and people" of South Africa.[22]
  •  United Arab Emirates: The embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Pretoria conveyed "prayers and support" to everyone affected. In a statement, the ambassador said that the UAE "continues to stand with and support the people of South Africa during this difficult time".[23]

Notes

  1. ^ A South African form of community policing organisation.

References

  1. ^ a b "Death toll in South Africa fuel tanker explosion rises to 15". Al Jazeera. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Boksburg explosion death toll rises to 18". eNCA. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  3. ^ "LIVE | Eight killed in Boksburg explosion". City Press. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Boksburg tanker explosion: Police arrest driver for culpable homicide after 15 confirmed dead". News24. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Boksburg explosion: Company launches investigation after its 'experienced' driver was in truck". Citizen. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Boksburg blast: Parties question safety of moving dangerous goods on SA's roads". EWN. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "Boksburg explosion: tanker driver arrested". Sowetan. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Boksburg explosion: Driver warned people to stay away from truck fire before blast killed 15 people". News24.
  9. ^ a b "Tanker explosion kills eight in South Africa, scores more injured". ABC News. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Fuel Tanker Wedged Beneath Overpass Explodes Near Hospital in South Africa". New York Times. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  11. ^ "'Devastation second to none' in Boksburg after gas tanker explosion". Citizen. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Horrific Boksburg explosion kills 10, multiple serious injuries". Pretoria Rekord. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Boksburg gas tanker explosion leaves 10 dead, 26 injured – and temporarily shuts down OR Tambo Memorial Hospital". Daily Maverick. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  14. ^ Watling, Tom (24 December 2022). "Many deaths after devastating fireball explosion erupts by hospital". Daily Express. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Tanker explosion: Eight Tambo Memorial staff succumb to their injuries". Boksburg Advertiser. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  16. ^ Jacobs, Yasmine. "OR Tambo Memorial hospital unable to accept patients as Boksburg explosion impacts hospital's resources and infrastructure". Independent Online. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Boksburg blast: Prasa assessing damage to line". eNCA. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Boksburg gas tanker driver set to appear in court on Wednesday". Jacaranda FM. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  19. ^ "BREAKING NEWS LIVE | Boksburg explosion: Driver released from custody as there's no 'case against him'". News24. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  20. ^ "Boksburg blast, President Ramaphosa sends condolences to victims' families". eNCA. 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  21. ^ "South Africa: Parliament's Presiding Officers Convey Condolences to Families of Boksburg Explosion Victims". African Business. 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  22. ^ "Saudi Arabia conveys condolences to SA following Boksburg explosion". Citizen. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  23. ^ "UAE stands in solidarity with SA after Boksburg explosion". Independent Online. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
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