Emergency services gather at the scene of a gas explosion downtown Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday July 19, 2023. Search and rescue officials also ordered residents in nearby buildings to evacuate the area and the area where the explosion happened was cordoned off.
Firefighters discovered the body of the man in a nighttime search of the blast area, Emergency Management Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said onLesufi said 12 people remained in several Johannesburg hospitals for medical treatment. The other 36 people who were hurt had been discharged, he said.
Authorities estimated that an area covering five city blocks was damaged and at least six roads were affected. At least 34 vehicles were damaged, with some of them flipped on their sides or lying on top of other vehicles. Others had tumbled into gaping crevices that appeared in the middle of roads as the damage resembled a scene from an apocalyptic movie.