Gas leak claims 17 lives in South African slum

Boksburg , July 6

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The death toll from a toxic gas leak that authorities blamed on an illegal gold processing operation in South Africa rose to 17, including three children, as police removed canisters from a community of closely packed shacks and sifted through evidence on Thursday.

The leak of what authorities said was a toxic nitrate gas happened on Wednesday night in the informal Angelo settlement in Boksburg, a city on the eastern outskirts of Johannesburg.

The three children who died were ages one, six and 15, the police said. At least 10 people were hospitalised, including a two-month-old baby, two four-year-olds and a nine-year old, according to Panyaza Lesufi, the premier of Gauteng province.

A statement from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office said it was a “devastating and tragic loss of innocent lives”.