One body found after Joburg CBD explosion
Johannesburg Emergency Services have confirmed that fire fighters recovered one body, following yesterday afternoon’s explosion on Lillian Ngoyi Street in the Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD).
This as an unexplained explosion ripped through central Johannesburg during rush hour Wednesday, tearing through a main road and injuring 41 people.
Emergency services initially blamed underground gas pipes, but the Egoli Gas company said in a statement it was "unlikely" the explosion -- which cracked tarmac and overturned vehicles including minibus taxis -- "was caused by a gas pipeline or leak".
"Our network has experienced no pressure loss which indicates the gas pipelines are intact. Our customers in the area continue to receive gas uninterrupted," the company said in a statement.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi was on the scene late on Wednesday evening and said a preliminary investigation did not reveal the cause of the blast.
"(The) situation is completely under control.
Experts would "get the full view and advise us.”
"The damage is extensive. It's a bad situation... It was peak time," said Lesufi.
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