Tanker explosion: Eight Tambo Memorial staff succumb to their injuries

Tambo Memorial staff will hold a prayer service today in honour of eight of their colleagues who succumbed to the injuries they sustained as a result of the gas tanker explosion in Plantation, very close to the hospital, on December 24.

According to hospital CEO Zenzo Ndabula, these staff members were in a parking area on the premises at the time of the explosion and sustained severe burn wounds.

“Our staff who are deceased as a result of their injuries include a driver, four enrolled nurses and three professional nurses,” he said. “We extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to these colleagues’ families,”

The hospital also suffered severe structural damage to some areas in the blast.

Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla and Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko visited the hospital yesterday (December 25) to assess the patient intake and injuries, as well as the damage.

According to the CEO, 37 people, including 24 patients and 13 staff members, who were in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency department at the time of the explosion sustained severe burns and have been diverted to neighbouring hospitals.

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These are the facts divulged after the Minister of Health’s visit to Tambo Memorial yesterday (Christmas Day):

• As of 18:00 on December 24, the death toll was 10 but had escalated to 15 by the next morning.
• The severe staff injuries at the hospital affected those who were in the parking area and members of the public outside.
• As of Saturday night (December 24) at 18:00 the number of patients admitted in the facility was 321.
• No new patients have been admitted since then.
• The facility is on divert, meaning that they are not taking patients but sending patients to other facilities nearby.
• Visitation to the hospital is suspended for a limited period and they are appealing for patience in this regard from family members.

Structural damage to the hospital

• Major structural damage occurred at the Accident and Emergency Unit and X-ray departments. The roof was damaged, ceilings collapsed, windows were broken and equipment damaged.
• Most of the minor structural damage was in the form of broken windows and collapsed ceilings. On most of the floors where windows were broken, blood was observed on the floors, believed to be that of injured staff and/or patients.
• The Casualty and Radiology departments are not accessible until structural engineers have done their work.
• A prohibition notice was issued by the Department of Labour.
• The Department of Infrastructure Development has structural engineers establishing the state of safety of the building.
• They still need to assess exactly which equipment is still in working order.
• By end of next week, there will be a high-level report covering various areas to give a sense of the state of the hospital and what kind of work will need to the done to get the facility back on track.

What services are still being provided at the hospital?

• All other services are continuing at the hospital, although they are not as yet taking new patients.
• Families who have loved ones at Tambo Memorial Hospital can call the facility on 011 898 8000 to check the status of their loved ones. They must provide the full names of their loved ones.
• Members of the public who might want to report missing persons in relation to the explosion can contact the Gauteng Provincial Government Service Delivery Hotline on 0800 228 8227.

Dr Phaahla said at the walk-through yesterday that government extends it sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and that their thoughts are with those recovering in hospitals.

Tambo CEO Ndabula said this is indeed a tragedy for their hospital colleagues’ families and for the many patients they have attended to, and he committed to sharing further information as it becomes available.

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