Toxic Gas Leak Kills 16 in South African Slum, Linked to Illegal Mining

At least 16 people, including 3 children, died from exposure to nitrate oxide gas leaking from a cylinder in a shanty settlement on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Initial reports suggested up to 24 people may have been killed, but authorities later confirmed 16 deaths after recounting the bodies at the scene.
The gas leak is believed to have originated from a cylinder being used by illegal miners to extract gold, according to South African authorities.
The bodies of the victims remained at the scene for hours as emergency responders awaited the arrival of forensic investigators and pathologists.
Illegal mining operations are common in gold-rich areas surrounding Johannesburg, often linked to violence, crime, and mining accidents.