Late Wednesday, South African police and local officials reported that a tragic incident occurred in a settlement called Angelo, situated in Boksburg, on the eastern outskirts of Johannesburg. Illegal miners were processing gold using a toxic nitrate gas, resulting in a leak that claimed the lives of at least 16 individuals, including three children. Initially, emergency services had indicated that the death toll could reach 24, but after a recount of the bodies, the confirmed number of fatalities stood at 16. Gauteng Province Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who visited the scene, expressed his deep sorrow, describing the situation as distressing, emotionally exhausting, and profoundly tragic, according to news reports.
Throughout the night, search teams diligently combed the area, hoping to find any other potential casualties. The bodies of the victims, sadly, remained on the ground for hours following the gas leak incident, which was reported around 8 p.m. Emergency services, awaiting the arrival of forensic investigators and pathologists to properly process the scene, were unable to move the bodies. Even at 3 a.m., the bodies were still in their original locations.
According to William Ntladi, spokesperson for the emergency services, "We can't move anybody. The bodies are still where they are on the ground." A poignant scene unfolded as a forensic investigator covered the body of a small child with a blanket. Nearby, another body lay covered in a white cloth, with a shoe visible beneath it. The area was sectioned off with yellow police tape.
Authorities have revealed that the tragic incident claimed the lives of three children, aged 1, 6, and 15. Additionally, two individuals were taken to the hospital for treatment, as confirmed by the police.
It is worth noting that Boksburg was previously the site of another devastating incident on Christmas Eve, where 41 individuals lost their lives when a truck carrying liquefied petroleum gas became lodged under a bridge and subsequently exploded.