The Gauteng Department of Health has announced that the death doll from the gas tanker explosion in Boksburg has now risen to 18 after three more people succumbed to their injuries.
Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said the dead include eight nurses and one driver from the Tambo Memorial Hospital staff, where the blast’s force severely damaged the accident and emergency unit.
The first 10 people succumbed to their injuries on Saturday after the tanker transporting gas got stuck under a bridge, resulting in an explosion that caused massive damage to private and public infrastructure within an estimated 500 metres from the scene.
Eight more people who had sustained severe injuries and burns have since died as of Monday.
Thirty-seven people- 24 patients and 13 staff members from Tambo Memorial Hospital who were in and around the hospital’s accident and emergency unit at the time of the blast, sustained severe burns and were sent to neighbouring hospitals.
Modiba said the hospital needed to admit new patients. Of the 321 patients in the hospital before the explosion, 42 patients were discharged on Sunday.
The department has called on affected families to visit the mortuary to identify their loved ones at the Germiston Forensic Pathology Services situated at 10 Long Street, (behind SAPS Germiston).
They can also call the 24-hour line on 082 306 2887. The mortuary operates from 08:00to 15:00, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays and weekends. Although Tuesday is a public holiday, it will be open.
Family members need to bring along:
- An original identity document of the family member coming to identify the deceased- driving licences won’t be accepted.
- Original ID of the deceased person or the abridged birth certificate. A birth certificate is acceptable if the deceased person is a child without an ID.
- If the deceased is a foreign national, a passport, an asylum seeker certificate, or a letter from the country-of-origin embassy confirming who the deceased is and to whom the mortal remains should be handed over.
Members of the public who would like to report missing people from the explosion can call the Gauteng government’s service delivery hotline number on 0800 228 8227.
Source: News24, The Citizen, Africa News, image from Twitter: @OwenSishi3