The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, expressed his profound sorrow at the reported death of at least 34 people in a petrol truck explosion in South Africa on Monday.
Numerous people were killed and injured in the incident in Boksburg, a suburb of the country’s capital, Johannesburg, on Christmas Eve. Additionally, it is alleged that homes and automobiles were destroyed.
Initial estimates put the death toll at around 27, but area health authorities said that it had grown to 34 by the previous weekend.
Last Friday, there was a memorial service for the deceased.
According to a statement from the UN Spokesperson’s office, the Secretary-General “expresses his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the explosion and to the people and the Government of South Africa.
“Guterres wishes for the full and speedy recovery of those who have been hurt, as well as the prompt repair of the harmed medical infrastructure.”
News reports also revealed that the victims included about a dozen medical professionals and nearly two dozen members of the general public. The death toll may increase further due to the significant burn injuries caused by the incident.
Some of those who died were children.
The gas tanker reportedly collided with a low bridge’s underside before exploding, according to press reports.
A large number of the casualties were taken to the hospital’s casualty unit before being evacuated before the roof collapsed.
