Four people were injured and dozens of students evacuated after a suspected gas-related explosion rocked a student accommodation building in Doornfontein near Johannesburg’s central business district, on Monday morning.
The blast occurred early on 2 February 2026 at a large student housing complex near the intersection of Lower Railway Road and Staib Street, causing part of a boundary wall and an adjacent utility room to collapse. Emergency services responded after reports of an explosion and fire at the scene.
Initial reports suggested a transformer fire may have caused the blast. However, authorities later indicated that the transformer did not explode, shifting the focus of the investigation to a possible gas leak.
Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services confirmed that four people were injured, including three security guards and one student. All sustained severe burns and were transported to nearby hospitals by Gauteng Provincial Government ambulance services.
Emergency Medical Services spokesperson Xolile Khumalo said all residents were accounted for shortly after the incident. “All nearby residents were initially accounted for following the blast, though ongoing safety checks were conducted to ensure no one remained trapped under the debris” Khumalo said.
As a precaution, dozens of students were evacuated while safety teams cordoned off the area to assess structural risks. More than 320 units within the complex were vacated as structural engineers and fire investigators worked to secure the site.
Public Safety MMC Dr Mgcini Tshwaku said the city is reviewing whether safety and planning regulations were properly followed during the conversion of the building from an industrial facility into student accommodation. “Teams will work around the clock to determine whether underground gas lines or other infrastructure issues contributed to the blast,” Tshwaku said.
City authorities have pledged a full investigation into the cause of the explosion. Dr Tshwaku said teams would work around the clock to determine whether underground gas lines or other infrastructure issues contributed to the blast.
Johannesburg City Power confirmed that the transformer’s protection systems functioned correctly and that the unit did not explode. The exact cause of the incident remains under investigation, with gas installations now a key focus.
Residents and students gathered near the scene as emergency responders continued rubble removal and safety assessments. Authorities have assured the public that nearby buildings are safe and that students will only be allowed to return once the complex is declared structurally sound.
