Boksburg gas leak leaves 17 dead, several others injured

A suspected gas leak in Boksburg, East of Johannesburg has claimed the lives of 17 people. An official police report released confirmed that three children were among the deceased. The tragic event happened on the 5th of July.

Earlier information had stipulated that there was an explosion. This was disputed by Emergency Management Service (EMS) team which established that gas had leaked from a canister in the informal settlement. Police and local authorities have linked the gas leak to an illegal gold mine in the area.

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What type of gas?

The gas was identified as nitrate oxide. This type of gas is linked to illegal mining done by illegal miners in the area. The cylinder of gas was found in a shack at the settlement.

The victims were found within a 100m radius of the scene. 

“The scene was heartbreaking. The bodies were scattered everywhere,” Panyaza Lesufi, Premier of the Gauteng Province said. The search and rescue team is still combing the scene of the accident. Local police have cordoned off the area and indicated that the gas leak is still active.

One woman narrated that her husband had died in a gas leak. She said that she received a call from a neighbour who informed her of his demise. The woman who is Mozambican, is concerned about how she will transport her husband’s body back to Mozambique for burial. 

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Condition of the hospitalized victims

Eleven other people are still in the hospital. Johannesburg is known for its natural minerals, including gold. Abandoned mine shafts have been occupied by illegal miners mostly from neighboring countries. Residents reported that illegal mining gangs have been dwelling in the area.

Mr. Lesufi said that the residents had asked for help from the police officers. He however indicated that they need a tactical police unit to help with the illegal gangs. In December 2022, there was another gas tanker explosion in Boksburg. The huge explosion left 38 dead and massive damage to property of unknown value. The gas tanker had stuck beneath an overpass and exploded with a blast that was heard half a mile away.

READ: Dozens dead after suspected gas leak in Boksburg informal settlement