Blast at power station - 1 dead

Johannesburg - One person was killed and 18 others were injured in an explosion at the Lethabo power station near Vereeniging on Saturday afternoon, paramedics said.

The body of a man with severe burns was recovered by firefighters close to where a leak of sulphur gas was found and where the explosion had occurred, said ER24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson.

The other 18 were treated at the scene and four of them sustained moderate burns to their hands and legs, while another complained of difficulty to breathe.

Jackson said paramedics suspected that the man with the breathing problem had sustained inhalation burns.

The rest of the patients sustained minor injuries and they were all taken to MediClinic in Vereeniging.

Jackson said according to the injured workers, they had noted a leak on one of the pipes in their section and when they tried to release sulphur gas, the explosion occurred.

Eskom spokesperson, Andrew Etsinger said they were aware of the incident, but could not give details yet.