Boksburg Gas Leak: 3 Kids Among Those Killed by Toxic Gas, Leaving SA Distraught: “God Save South Africa”

• Three children are among those killed in the devastating gas leak at the Angelo informal settlement in Boksburg
• In addition to the 16 people tragically killed in the incident, another 16 were admitted to the hospital
• The gas leak is linked to suspected stolen gas cylinders that were allegedly cut open by illegal miners

BOKSBURG - Three children are among those killed by the toxic gas leak at the Angelo informal settlement near Boksburg, Gauteng.

A total of 16 people have been confirmed dead, with the youngest victim only one-year-old.

Reports claim nitric acid caused Boksburg gas leak tragedy, expert disagrees

Authorities reported the mass death came after a gas cylinder allegedly containing nitric oxide leaked, resulting in residents inhaling the gas on Wednesday evening, 5 July.

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However, speaking to Briefly News, Dr Cindy Stephen, the Director of the Red Cross Children's Hospital's Poisons Information Centre, said that it was highly unlikely that nitric oxide caused the deaths.

Dr Stephen said:

"Systemic toxicity or illness is generally unlikely following exposure to nitric oxide (a colourless gas), and death is most unlikely.

Nitric oxide or nitrogen monoxide can be converted to nitrogen dioxide gas (brown colour) which may cause poisoning, such as coughing, shortness of breath etc. Again, this is most unlikely to cause sudden deaths as seen in Boksburg."

Some witnesses reported smelling a foul odour prior to the tragedy, and Dr Stephen believes that this detail could point to the true gas that caused the deaths.

"One wonders if the gas may have been something different, such as hydrogen sulphide. This is a colourless gas that most people can smell as ‘rotten eggs’. Inhalation of high concentrations leads rapidly to collapse, respiratory paralysis, cyanosis, convulsions, coma, cardiac arrhythmias and death within minutes," Dr Stephen added.

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According to police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, inquest dockets have been opened to further investigate the incident, IOL reported.

16 other Angelo informal settlement residents hospitalised following Boksburg gas leak

In addition, the three children, five women and eight men were also killed.

Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services spokesperson William Ntladi said that some residents were resuscitated by paramedics at the informal settlement.

16 people were rushed to the hospital, four were admitted in critical condition and 11 in serious condition.

The Tambo Memorial Hospital, where the surviving victims were admitted, was previously damaged in the Christmas Eve gas tanker explosion that left 41 people dead.

Illegal mining activity linked to deadly Boksburg gas explosion

Preliminary investigations have linked the gas cylinder that caused the gas leak to illicit activity mining at Angelo informal settlement.

It is believed that gas was used to extract gold allegedly contained within the soil within the informal settlement.

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A security guard who asked to stay anonymous claimed that the gas cylinders were stolen. The thieves allegedly cut one cylinder open, which caused the deadly leak, News24 reported.

South Africans left reeling after deadly Boksburg gas leak

Below are some comments:

@Joe4421246681 added:

"This is so sad. God save South Africa."

@Shokwakhe16 questioned:

"How many people must die before this government deals with illegal mining in South Africa?"

@NgomaneEddie added:

"Highly disturbing to think that there was an element of crime which caused the tragedy."

@NgomelaTho34268 mourned:

"Oh lord, what wrongs have we done to deserve this havoc?"

@MaraEnslin grieved:

"Sad news to wake up to RIP."

Lesotho pleads with SA govt to retrieve 31 illegal miners’ bodies trapped in Welkom mine after an explosion

In another story, Briefly News reported that SA's Mineral Resources and Energy Department revealed that 31 illegal miners believed to be Lesotho citizens were killed in a methane explosion at an abandoned mine in the Free State.

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Zama Zama who survived abandoned Harmony Gold mine blast refutes deadly explosion was caused by methane gas

The spokesperson to the Lesotho Prime Minister, Thapelo Mabote, has pleaded with the South African government to help retrieve the bodies that have been trapped since the explosion.

Speaking on Newzroom Afrika, Mabote said that while the Lesotho government does not condone illegal mining, they would like to repatriate the bodies of the deceased and return them to their families.

Source: Briefly News