A spokesperson for the Disaster and Emergency Management Services in Ekurhuleni, William Tladi, who is on the scene, says they received a call just after 20h00 about what was initially thought to be a gas explosion.

Tladi says upon arrival they established that it was in fact a gas leakage from a gas cylinder from one of the yards within the informal settlement.

He says the initial investigation indicates this could be linked to illegal mining activity in the area. “When we arrived, we found out that there was no explosion, but gas leakage.

“As I am speaking to you, I can confirm that 24 people have died, including women and children, due to nitrate gas inhalation. We suspect this could be linked to illegal mining in the area,” says Ntladi.

--SABC--