At least two people suffered serious burn wounds following an explosion at a business premise in Woodstock, Cape Town.
The incident which happened on Thursday night is believed to have been caused by a gas explosion which took place at a local superette on the corners of Victoria and Plein Roads.
Two people have been reported to be seriously injured following the explosion. The two men, who sustained 70 to 100% burn wounds, were transported to Groote Hospital for treatment, said the authorities.
A local councillor, Ian McMahon, reported that the shop next to Saleh BBQ Tonight (Thursday) caught fire.
Residents and onlookers stood in shock as firefighters tried to fight the blaze in an attempt to stop it from spreading.
Allen Swartz, the public safety officer from Byers Security Solutions, said he heard the blast while he was conducting his patrols.
“I heard the blast. I was on the corners of Church and Albert Roads when I heard my colleague radio our control room saying there was a fire at one of the shops here on the corners of Victoria and Plein Streets.
“On my arrival I saw a lot of people standing around. Approaching the shop, I saw a lot of flames and the blast coming from the shop behind it. There was one guy coming from the shop that was injured in the process. I don’t know of any other injuries,” he said.
Source: The South African, IOL, Eyewitness News, image from Twitter: City of Cape Town