The truck was carrying liquid petroleum gas.
“Apparently, a gas tanker drove under the subway bridge and got stuck in there, and due to friction, it caught alight,” emergency services spokesperson William Ntladi was quoted as saying.
As firefighters tried to put out the blaze, there was a huge second explosion – captured on amateur video – that destroyed a fire engine and two motor vehicles.
There are fears the death toll could rise, as 19 people are in critical condition and 15 others are stable but seriously hurt, AFP reports.
The #BoksburgExplosion💔💔💔
— 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐢 (@Brown_Mushai) December 24, 2022
Those pictures are traumatising…😭Condolences to families of the firefighters and civilians who have lost their lives in this tragedy. pic.twitter.com/byQYdj7dKh