Gas leak kills 16 in South African slum: Emergency services

International

6-07-2023, 09:43

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INA- Sources

South African emergency services revised the death toll on Thursday from a gas leak at a slum near Johannesburg to 16 from an initial report of 24.

“We have got 16 on scene now that are confirmed dead, and the intervention of paramedics managed to revive some others and they were taken to hospital,” emergency services spokesman William Ntladi told AFP from the scene, adding 16 were hospitalized.

The disaster occurred near the district of Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.

Emergency services received a call around 8 pm (1800 GMT) for what was reported to be a gas explosion, but on arrival they discovered it was “a gas leakage from a cylinder” containing a “poisonous gas”, Ntladi said.

He said women and children were among the dead.

Preliminary information suggests the gas was being used “as part of illegal mining activities,” he added.

source: ALARABIYA