South Africa mourns victims of tanker blast as death toll jumps to 34

FILE PHOTO: People gather near a burnt out truck at the entrance of the damaged bridge where a gas tanker exploded in Boksburg near Johannesburg, South Africa, December 24, 2022. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham/File Photo

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The death toll from a gas tanker explosion in Johannesburg on Christmas Eve has increased to 34 from an earlier estimate of 27, the provincial health department said on Friday.

The blast tore the roof off the emergency department at the Tambo Memorial hospital in the city's Boksburg suburb on Saturday, while also injuring scores of bystanders, destroying houses and several cars.