Authorities have said that an explosion has occurred in the heart of Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday evening, resulting in the death of one person and injuring 48 others. Panyaza Lesufi, the premier of Gauteng province, which encompasses Johannesburg, addressed the media on Thursday, revealing that 12 of the injured individuals remain hospitalized.
Emergency services are currently at the scene, assessing the extent of the damage and evacuating people as needed.
Due to the incident’s gravity, several streets in this typically bustling area of South Africa’s commercial hub have been closed to traffic.
While the cause of the massive explosion is yet to be definitively determined, Gauteng officials suspect that it might have been triggered by a rupture of underground gas pipes.
Witnesses reported feeling the ground shake and hearing a loud bang just before a section of Breet street collapsed, causing overturned cars and minibus taxis. Video footage illustrates the significant impact, showing a wide split in the road resulting from the incident.