Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and City of Ekurhuleni Mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana are on site in Angelo informal settlement where 17 people have died from gas inhalation following a gas leak that occurred there last night.
Eight men, six women and three children, one aged only a year, succumbed to the poisonous fumes, allegedly emanating from a nitrate oxide cylinder believed to be connected to illegal mining activities.
After opening the cylinder - filled with nitrate oxide - the zama zamas fled to escape the toxic fumes. They collapsed and died just metres away from where they had set up their illegal operation to refine gold in a shack. #BoksburgGasLeak@orrin417 pic.twitter.com/94L3i3G8Ye
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) July 6, 2023
According to DEMS media liaison officer William Ntladi, they received a call just after 20:00 last night (July 5) about what was initially thought to be a gas explosion.
“Upon arrival, it was ascertained it was in fact a gas leakage from a cylinder in one of the yards,” he said.
This is the gas canister, which was filled with nitrate oxide and leaked, causing 16 people to die in #Boksburg last night. Many of the deceased are believed to have been working as illegal miners - mining for gold. Here, you can see how they had set up their operation. @orrin417 pic.twitter.com/xev4TIuKSi
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) July 6, 2023
“Sixteen people were taken to Tambo Memorial Hospital after the intervention of paramedics on the scene. Four were in a critical condition, 11 in a serious but stable condition and one patient was fully conscious.”
“SAPS and forensic investigators are on scene conducting preliminary investigations. It is alleged the gas cylinder leaked. Information gathered on site suggests illegal mining activities were taking place from one of the shacks in Angelo,” Ntladi said.
This is where the gas cylinder leaked that caused the deaths of 17 people in Boksburg The toxic gas leak is a result of illegal mining activities. #BoksburgGasLeak #TheCitizenNews
— The Citizen News (@TheCitizen_News) July 6, 2023
🎥@NeilMcCartney pic.twitter.com/s5jr0vQvUb
“Nitrate gas is used as part of their extraction of gold from the area. A cylinder is believed to have leaked and caused the fatalities and injuries,” Ntladi said.
It was confirmed by Lesufi this morning that there is a 17th victim of the gas leak but it is not confirmed whether this is one of the people hospitalised in critical condition.
The Boksburg Advertiser is on site. This is a developing story.
Zweli Dlamini, Ekurhuleni spokesperson, says the Boksburg death toll has risen to 17 after Angelo informal settlement residents died from poisoning when a gas cylinder leaked. #ZweliDlamini #TheCitizenNews#BoksburgGasLeak
— The Citizen News (@TheCitizen_News) July 6, 2023
🎥@NeilMcCartney pic.twitter.com/T8NpeAvMAn