5 dead, 142 injured in SA blast

JOHANNESBURG – Five people died and 142 were injured yesterday in a blast in an ethylene plant run by South African minerals and hydrocarbons group Sasol in the town of Secunda east of Johannesburg, an official said.

“I can confirm that five people have died and 142 treated for minor and for serious injuries,” Sasol communications manager Johann van Rheede said. He said the blast occurred when “a gas cloud exploded during routine maintenance” at about 9:30am at the plant, the world’s biggest coal-to-synthetic fuels facility which is spread over 14 square kilometres.Secunda is located about 150 kilometres east of Johannesburg.-Nampa-AFPHe said the blast occurred when “a gas cloud exploded during routine maintenance” at about 9:30am at the plant, the world’s biggest coal-to-synthetic fuels facility which is spread over 14 square kilometres.Secunda is located about 150 kilometres east of Johannesburg.-Nampa-AFP