The Gauteng Department of Health confirmed on Thursday morning that the death toll in the Boksburg tanker explosion has now risen to 27.
Of these, 10 are health workers from the Tambo Memorial Hospital, situated 100m from the site of the explosion on Saturday morning.
Departmental spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said of the 13 staff members who were injured from the blast, only three are still alive and are in a critical condition in hospital.
On Wednesday it was reported that the 32-year-old driver of the gas tanker truck that caused the Boksburg explosion did not appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court as scheduled as he had been released on Tuesday due to insufficient evidence.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said police are still investigating all aspects of the accident.
The truck had crashed into a low bridge in Boksburg on Saturday, before the tanker exploded, leaving 10 people dead and dozens more severely injured at the scene.
Gauteng Premiere Panyaza Lesufi visited the families of the deceased on Wednesday.
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