Local authorities in South Africa report that 17 people have died as a result of a suspected gas leak.
At an unofficial settlement in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, the victims, which included women and children, died from gas inhalation.
The area’s illegal gold mining has been linked to Wednesday’s leak.
The illegal gold miners, frequently use toxic gases to extract gold from soil taken from abandoned mine shafts.
Within Boksburg’s densely populated Angelo shanty town, one of the gas cylinders was discovered to be leaking.
The victims were located within 100m (328ft) of the scene
“The scene was heart-breaking… the bodies were scattered literally everywhere,” said Panyaza Lesufi, Premier of the Gauteng Province.
As the search and rescue teams continue their work, emergency service officials are concerned that more bodies could be discovered.
One person is in critical condition while twelve others are receiving medical treatment.
Reporters were informed by a Mozambican woman living in South Africa that her husband died in the gas leak. She claimed that she had received a call from a neighbor informing her that her husband had collapsed.
Locals, according to Mr. Lesufi, have been complaining that illegal miners have taken over the area, and they want the army and security forces to assist in evicting them.
“We need a tactical unit to police this kind of crime. Illegal miners are normally very heavily armed,” he said.
This tragedy comes just six months after a gas tanker explosion on Christmas Eve in the same town claimed 41 lives.
Source-BBC
