Fatal Nitrate Gas Leak in South Africa Claims 16 Lives Including 3 Children, States Police

South African police and local officials reported late Wednesday that a deadly toxic nitrate gas leak resulted in the loss of at least 16 lives, three of which were children, within a residential area of tightly clustered metal shacks. The gas was illegally utilized by miners in the gold extraction process.

Emergency services initially speculated a potential death toll of 24 within the Angelo settlement, located in Boksburg on Johannesburg’s eastern outskirts. However, subsequent confirmation by police and Panyaza Lesufi, Premier of Gauteng Province, established the casualty count to be 16 following a recount.

A visibly affected Lesufi, after visiting the site, described the scene as “painful, emotionally draining, and tragic”, in statements made to the media.

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Into the night, search parties scoured the area for additional casualties. The deceased remained on the scene several hours post-incident, as authorities awaited the arrival of forensic investigators and pathologists. As late as 3 a.m., the bodies still lay in situ.

“The bodies are still where they are on the ground. We can’t move anybody,” announced emergency services spokesperson William Ntladi.

Forensic personnel were observed covering the body of a young child, while another body lay concealed under a white cloth, cordoned off by police tape.

The deceased children were confirmed to be ages 1, 6, and 15, according to police. Two individuals were transported to the hospital for medical attention.

Boksburg is known for the tragic incident where 41 lives were claimed when a truck transporting liquefied petroleum gas exploded after being lodged under a bridge on Christmas Eve.

Ntladi identified a gas cylinder leak within a shack as the source of the nitrate gas causing Wednesday’s fatalities. Upon inspection, the cylinder was found to be empty, facilitating the search for more victims within a 100 meters (100 yards) radius of the cylinder.

Investigators navigated narrow, unlit alleyways between shacks, a common feature in South Africa’s impoverished urban settlements. Emergency vehicles, including six police cars, an armored vehicle, and an ambulance, were stationed at the Angelo settlement entrance.

The cylinder believed to have caused the gas leak was reported by Ntladi to be employed by illegal miners in their gold extraction processes.

Lesufi posted a video on Twitter displaying the interior of a shack housing multiple gas cylinders. The cylinder purported to have caused the leak was visible on the floor near the shack’s entrance.

Authorities have not disclosed whether the illegal miners implicated in the gas leak were among the victims.

Illegal mining is prevalent in the gold-rich regions surrounding Johannesburg, where miners infiltrate disused and cordoned-off mines in search of remaining deposits.

Mining fatalities, especially underground, are not uncommon. The South African department in charge of mining recently disclosed a suspected death toll of 31 illegal miners following a methane gas explosion in a disused mine in central South Africa’s city of Welkom.

This recent incident is likely to intensify resentment towards illegal miners, often immigrants and organized crime members, who are held responsible for increasing crime rates in local communities.

Last year, violence surged against illegal miners in a region west of Johannesburg, following allegations of gang rape against a group of 80 men, suspected to be illegal miners, on eight women at a TV shoot location in a disused mine.

Reportingfrom Cape Town, South Africa was provided by Imray.

For additional AP Africa news, visit: https://bigbignews.net/africa

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