Gas tanker blaze shuts N12 in Joburg south, major diversions in place
A gas tanker fire has led to the full closure of the N12 Highway near the Comaro Road off-ramp in southern Johannesburg, with authorities warning motorists to avoid the area for several hours.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) said the tanker caught alight on the westbound carriageway shortly before the Comaro Road off-ramp in the Bassonia area in the early hours of Sunday. The fire intensified quickly because of the highly flammable cargo.
Emergency services, including firefighting units, were deployed to the scene and are working to extinguish the blaze and cool the tanker. Due to the ongoing risk of explosion, both eastbound and westbound lanes of the N12 have been fully closed.
Traffic is being diverted as follows:
– Westbound: diverted at the R59 Reading Interchange
– Eastbound: diverted at Kliprivier Drive
Motorists are urged to use alternative routes, including:
– The M1 via Booysens
– The R59 through Alberton
– Kliprivier Drive through the southern suburbs
Authorities say the closure is expected to remain in place for several hours while firefighting, cooling and clean-up operations continue.
