The Gauteng Provincial Government says it will continue to give counselling to the families of those who died and were injured by the gas tanker explosion in Boksburg on Christmas Eve.
The blast claimed the lives of at least 37 people – 12 of whom were healthcare workers at the Tambo Memorial Hospital located in the area.
The provincial government said although some families have already opted to bury their loved ones, national and provincial government officials will be deployed to attend the funerals of those who have not, in order to “provide support to the affected families”.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi reiterated his support and the provincial government’s condolences to those affected families.
“We continue to stand with the many families whose lives have been changed forever by the tragic incident. This has not been an easy period, particularly for those who lost their loved ones.
“We implore our health professionals to provide the best care to those who are still on the road to recovery,” Lesufi said.
According to the provincial government, at least 23 other officials at the hospital suffered injuries with many other emergency personnel being affected.
“Majority of the staff have been treated and discharged. Eight Ekurhuleni Emergency Medical Services personnel were injured during the explosion. Six have been discharged while two have since been downgraded from intensive care to normal wards and are recovering well.
“There are still several people in various hospitals and the health department continues to monitor their situation,” the provincial government said in a statement.
