41 injured in mysterious explosion in South Africa

GOOBJOOG NEWS | JOHANNESBURG: A huge explosion that ripped apart a busy road in Johannesburg South Africa has so far injured 41 people and damaged several passenger vehicles.

In a media briefing, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi told a media briefing that those injured were hospitalized with various degrees of injuries from the blast, which occurred after 5 p.m. local time (1500GMT). He said no fatalities had been recorded.

Lesufi said several experts have been called in to determine what might have caused the explosion.

He said Bree Street, where the blast occurred, has been cordoned off together with parts of the adjacent streets.

The force from the explosion overturned several vehicles as the tarmac ripped apart as if it was an earthquake.

‘‘We have evacuated homeless people to a safe area,’’ Lesufi said.

People residing in flats along Bree Street have been advised to evacuate from the buildings.

Earlier this month, at least 16 people died after a suspected gas cylinder leak occurred at an informal settlement near the suburb of Boksburg just outside Johannesburg.