A preliminary report by the Department of Labour, indicates the explosion might have originated from three manholes or junction boxes, this is according to the Premier of Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi.
He was addressing the media this afternoon, about yesterday’s peak hour explosion, that occurred in the Johannesburg CBD’s Lilian Ngoyi Street “formerly known as Bree Street.”
One person has died as a result and two are in a critical condition at Charlotte Maxeke hospital. About 48 people were injured.
An environmental team was dispatched to the scene to confirm the type of gas and also ascertain if it is still harmful.
Lesufi also said all organizations with underground infrastructure in the City were gathered following the explosion but currently there is no confirmed source of the explosion.
A street vendor in the area who did not want to be named, told Earthnews365, that her children will feel the pinch of losing a day’s work, although it is not clear when business will resume in that particular part of town. A nearby butchery and some clothing stores are also closed, leaving customers to shop in other malls in town.
Another vendor said she forsees possible infighting among peers if a matter about spaces is not sorted out in the interim by the City.
Nearby residents close to the spot of the incident, do not have electricity and generators are off, until further notice.