Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has confirmed that the death toll from the Boksburg gas leak incident has now reached 17. The tragedy occurred on Wednesday night in the Angelo informal settlement, where a gas cylinder carrying nitrate oxide is believed to have leaked, resulting in the loss of lives. Among the deceased are illegal miners who were using nitrate oxide to extract gold from the soil.
According to Lesufi, a young man succumbed to gas inhalation, raising the death toll. Emergency services swiftly responded to the scene, and 16 individuals were urgently transported to the hospital for treatment. The premier expressed his prompt action, joining the emergency team and forensic unit in combing the area throughout the night to ensure no detail was overlooked.
It is worth noting that this is the same area where a tragic incident occurred last Christmas, claiming the lives of 41 people. At that time, a gas tanker carrying flammable gas became trapped under a bridge, resulting in a catastrophic explosion.