Explosion At Power Station

Sulphur gas is not usually explosive, so definite investigations need to be undertaken to determine the exact cause of the explosion that occurred at the Power Station in the Vaal this afternoon.

ER24 paramedics from the Vereeniging branch responded through to a distress call by medical officials at the power station. When they arrived, they were sent to the medical station where the patients were being treated. It was said that there were nineteen people working on that specific portion of the plant, a mixture of males and females, but they had only eighteen accounted for that were injured in the explosion.

Fire services had secured the plant and they along with paramedics went into the building in search of the missing worker. He was found on the stairs, face down, close to where the leak is believed to have started and where the explosion occurred. The man of unknown age suffered severe, deep burns to the surface of his body, and he was declared deceased on the scene. Paramedics were still waiting for the mans details so as to complete the necessary paper work involved.

Four of the eighteen injured had sustained moderate burns to their hands and legs, while another one was complaining of difficulty breathing and it is suspected that he had sustained inhalation burns. The other patients were all treated for minor injuries, and all eighteen where transported to the Vereeniging Medi Clinic for further treatment.

Workers explained that they had noted that one of the pipes they call Glands had come loose, and was releasing the sulphur gas when the explosion took place.