Johannesburg Explosion Leaves Scores Injured in South Africa’s Economic Hub
- One person killed during Wednesday afternoon downtown blast
- Gas supplier says explosion unlikely caused by pipeline leak
Emergency services at the scene of a gas explosion in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Photographer: Shiraaz Mohamed/APThis article is for subscribers only.
An explosion in the central business district of South Africa’s commercial capital of Johannesburg killed at least one person and left more than 40 others injured, according to Radio 702.
Authorities are yet to identify the cause of the Wednesday afternoon blast that resulted in major damage to streets, although initial speculation pointed to a burst gas pipeline. The city’s supplier Egoli Gas Ltd. said it was unlikely that a leak in it’s pipeline had caused the explosion as its systems had not experienced any loss of pressure.