Sixteen people were confirmed dead when a gas containing nitrate oxide leaked in Angelo Informal settlement in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni late on Wednesday evening. Women and children are among those killed. 

This is the activity that was taking place #BoksburgGasLeak pic.twitter.com/lxZjkjkr2y

— Panyaza Lesufi (@Lesufi) July 5, 2023

THE TRAGEDY 

Ekurhuleni EMS confirmed that the leakage was from a gas cylinder that was found inside a shack in the informal settlement. Spokesperson William Ntladi said that they received a call around 8 pm which was initially thought to be an explosion but discovered on arrival that it was a gas leakage. "We have identified 16 people who are deceased including women and children,' Ntladi said. It was initially reported that 24 people had died from the gas leak, but the numbers were revised to 16. Ntladi added that most of the dead and injured are zama zamas who use nitrogen oxide gas cylinders to extract gold from the ground in illegal mining activities in the area. 

WOMEN AND CHILDREN AMONG THOSE KILLED

According to Ntladi women and children were among the dead with their bodies scattered in different parts of the squatter camp close to where the leak emanated from. Five women, and three children aged 1,6, and 15 were among those who were killed.  Two people were taken to hospital for treatment. Ntladi also said that rescue and recovery teams were still conducting secondary searches in the settlement that might bring the numbers up from the initial reported sixteen. The police and pathology services are still on the scene this morning.