Three young children are fighting for their lives in hospital after a tragic explosion on Monday, 27 January, in HaraKopane Village, QwaQwa, in the Free State. The children, who were sitting near a container of paint, suffered severe burns when the container exploded, engulfing them in flames.
According to the 31-year-old mother of two of the victims, the family had been without electricity that day. Her children had visited a neighbor, a 15-year-old girl who was attempting to cook using wet wood. The children were seated around the fire outside when the explosion occurred. “The young girl made the tragic mistake of using a container of paint, which still had remnants of paint inside, to strengthen the fire,” the mother explained. “The paint was highly flammable, and when it ignited, it caused the container to explode, setting the children on fire.”
The mother confirmed that her four-year-old daughter is receiving intensive medical treatment for severe burns to her face and body at an undisclosed hospital in Bloemfontein. “She is in a critical condition,” the mother said. “The parents of the 15-year-old girl who was involved have been cooperative, helping with my travel expenses to visit my daughter regularly, and they have promised to provide compensation for the children’s injuries once they receive proper medical care.”
The incident is being investigated by local police. Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring confirmed that the paint container involved may have also contained benzene, a highly flammable substance. “All three girls were transferred to the local hospital for further treatment,” he said. An inquiry is currently underway to determine the full circumstances of the accident.
The family of another child involved in the accident could not be reached for comment at this time.
