GENERAL NEWS

At least one person confirmed dead as South Africa is hit by ‘earthquake-like’ gas explosion

The largest city in South Africa, Johannesburg, was hit by a massive gas explosion on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.

Just like an earthquake, the gas explosion ripped streets apart, destroyed structures and left vehicles flying in the air.

According to a BBC report, at least one person died as a result of the incident which happened on Wednesday night with another 48 being injured.

Officials of the Gauteng province indicate that the cause of the explosion has not yet been determined but they suspect that it might have been caused by a rupture of some underground gas pipes.

The premier of Gauteng province, Panyaza Lesufi, on Thursday, said that 12 of the wounded persons are still receiving treatment in the hospital.

He indicated that several streets in Johannesburg have been closed to traffic with emergency services still on the scene assessing the damage and evacuating people where necessary.

The report indicated that the ground shook during the incident with loud bang moments before the earth opened, and a section of Breet Street collapsed.

A video of the scene of the explosion showed a street vertically split into two.

At least 20 vehicles vandalised by the explosion could be seen lying on the sides of the street.

Watch a video of the incident below:

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Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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