Four people have been taken to hospital with injuries after a truck collided with a diesel tanker on the M7 highway towards Bluff, south of Durban, causing major traffic disruptions and a hazardous fuel spill.
Emergency crews worked to free two occupants who were severely trapped inside one of the vehicles near the N2 highway interchange. Rescue teams used hydraulic cutting equipment, commonly known as the jaws of life, to extricate them.
According to ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson, the scene remains restricted as authorities deal with a significant diesel leak from the tanker.
“The M7 going towards the Bluff has been closed off at the N2, and traffic is severely affected. People coming from the Bluff towards the N2 there is some traffic, but it does seem to be flowing,” Jamieson said.
He added that the tanker had been transporting approximately 30,000 litres of diesel, much of which is now spilling onto the roadway, prompting a coordinated response to contain the fuel and prevent environmental damage.
Officials warned that the area will remain closed for an extended period as clean-up operations continue, with motorists advised to use alternative routes.