The mystery lingered all Wednesday night. A rush hour blast in central Johannesburg, South Africa, ripped the roadway off a traffic axis and injured about 40 people and overturned about 20 cars, authorities said.
Emergency services initially warned of a possible explosion of underground gas lines, but gas company Egoli said in the evening that it was “unlikely” that the blast, which split the road, collapsed the roadway and overturned several vehicles, including shared taxis, “unlikely” is caused by a gas line or leak”.
“Our network has not suffered a loss of pressure, which indicates that the pipes are intact. “Our customers in the region continue to receive gas without interruption,” the company added in a statement.
” A wonder “
“It’s a miracle there were no fatalities,” Panyaza Lesufi, prime minister of Gauteng Province, which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria, commented on the scene, saying 41 people were injured, including two in critical condition and nine seriously and 30 light. He considered that the first elements of the investigation do not currently make it possible to understand “the cause” of the explosion.
The situation is “completely under control,” he added, adding that a perimeter had been put in place. The investigators would “examine and advise us thoroughly”. “The damage is impressive” and will be assessed, he added.