UPDATE | Joburg student and security guards suffer severe burns in transformer explosion

A student and three security guards sustained third-degree burns following a transformer explosion at a student residence in New Doornfontein on Monday morning. 

Speaking from the scene, Mulaudzi said their control rooms received a call just before 6 am reporting a substation fire in the area.

"We dispatched emergency services. On arrival, we found that a substation was on fire. During the incident, there was an explosion, and a wall collapsed. Three people who were in the vicinity were injured,” Mulaudzi said.

He said authorities were informed that the building is a student residence.

“We were told that one of the injured is a student because the building is in a student area, and three others are security officials who were around the building, bringing the total number of injured people to four,” he said.

Mulaudzi said it has not yet been confirmed whether there are any other people trapped under the rubble.

“We cannot leave the scene without ensuring that there are no other people trapped beneath the rubble,” he said. “We need to remove the debris to be certain.”

He said emergency services are waiting for a TLB to assist with clearing the rubble, and further updates will be provided once the debris has been removed.

Earlier, EMS spokesperson Xolile Khumalo said all nearby residents have been accounted for.

At that time, she said three people were injured and transported by Gauteng Provincial Government ambulance services to nearby hospitals.

Khumalo said the transformer-related matter has been handed over to City Power. 

She said EMS remains on the scene conducting further investigations.

The cause of the incident has not yet been determined.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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