Gas leak in South Africa kills 16

JOHANNESBURG

At least 16 people have died after a suspected gas cylinder leak in a suburb just outside Johannesburg, according to an emergency services official.

Ekurhuleni Emergency Services spokesman William Ntladi told reporters Wednesday night that a nitrate oxide gas cylinder found at the Angelo informal settlement in Boksburg is suspected to have been used by illegal miners to extract gold, but investigations are ongoing.

Ntladi said the death toll could rise as the gas leak occurred in an informal residential area with many shacks (tin houses) close to each other.