CNN —At least 17 people have died from nitrate gas inhalation following a gas leak at an informal settlement camp in South Africa, according to state media.
The leak came from a gas cylinder containing nitrate oxide at the informal settlement, William Ntlad, spokesperson for the Disaster and Emergency Management Services said.
He said an initial investigation indicates the leak could be linked to illegal mining activity in the area.
A police officer sits in the back of a police vehicle loaded with illegal mining equipment, after investigating the scene of a suspected gas leak thought to be linked to illegal mining, in the Angelo shack settlement, near Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa July 6, 2023.
Siphiwe Sibeko/ReutersIllegal mining, mostly for gold, has remained rife in South Africa and costs the country millions of dollars each year.
Persons:
Lesufi, William Ntlad, Ntladi, Siphiwe Sibeko, ”
Organizations:
CNN, SABC, Premier, Tambo Memorial Hospital, Emergency Management Services, Reuters, country’s Department of Mineral and Energy Resources, country’s Free
Locations:
South Africa, Angelo, Boksburg, Gauteng, Panyaza, Tambo, Johannesburg, Lesotho