JOHANNESBURG (AP) – South African police are investigating the deaths of at least 20 people at a nightclub in the east London coastal city on Sunday morning.
It is unclear what caused the deaths of the young people, who are said to have attended a party to celebrate the end of the winter school exams.
Local newspaper Daily Dispatch reported that the bodies were strewn across tables and chairs with no visible signs of injuries.
“At this time we cannot confirm the cause of death,” health department spokeswoman Siyanda Manana said.
“We will conduct autopsies as soon as possible to establish the probable cause of death. The dead have been taken to state funeral homes,” Manana added.
Police Minister Bheki Cele was expected to visit the scene on Sunday morning.
The owner of the club, Siyakhangela Ndevu, told local channel eNCA that he had been called to the scene on Sunday morning.
“I’m still not sure what really happened, but when they called me in the morning they told me the place was too crowded and that some people were trying to get quite into the tavern,” he said.
“However, we will hear what the police say about the cause of death,” Ndevu added.