7 electrical energy pylons collapse onto freeway in South Africa

At the least seven massive electrical energy pylons collapsed onto a freeway close to the South African capital of Pretoria, inflicting a multiple-vehicle crash, metropolis authorities and emergency providers stated Monday.

Two individuals had been “reasonably” injured within the automobile crash, handled on the scene and brought to the hospital, the personal Promed paramedic service stated.

The pylon collapses had prompted high-voltage cables to “grasp extraordinarily low over the

freeway,” inflicting autos to swerve to keep away from them and ensuing within the crash, Promed stated.

The Metropolis of Tshwane, which oversees the Pretoria metropolitan space, stated the pylons collapsed Sunday evening.

The rationale for his or her collapse was unclear however Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink stated there’s a “very robust risk that that is due to prison vandalism.”

There had beforehand been makes an attempt to steal sections of metallic from the bottom of the pylons, Brink stated, and the pylons needed to be repaired.

Many areas in north and east Pretoria had misplaced their electrical energy provide. Restore crews had been battling wet climate and there was no estimate but for the way lengthy these areas could be with out energy, town stated.

A part of the N4 freeway, which is the principle route into Pretoria from the east, was closed.