The bodies of more than 20 young people were discovered early Sunday morning at a nightclub in South Africa, authorities said. Health officials in the area told police were investigating after at least 22 bodies were found inside a famous township tavern near East London. As of this writing, the cause of death had not yet been determined.
According to the New York Times, Eastern Cape Department of Community Safety spokesman Unathi Binqose said preliminary findings suggested a stampede at the overcrowded club. As East London Mayor Xola Pakati put it, a massacre has occurred, he said. One South Africa’s most prominent leaders has reportedly expressed his deepest sympathies.
“While the President awaits more information on the incident, his thoughts are with the families who have lost children as well as families who are awaiting confirmation of how their children may have been affected,” he said in a statement, according to CNN.
According to the newspaper, police received a call at 4 a.m. local time reporting deaths at the tavern from Brig. Tembinkosi Kinana, a police spokesman. According to the Times, he claimed that the bar had a large party on Saturday night to celebrate lifting South Africa‘s mask requirement in public places. In other reports, the students appeared to be celebrating the conclusion of their winter school exams.
He said, “It attracted huge numbers—more than the Tavern can accommodate,” Kinana.
According to Siyanda Manana, a spokesperson for the Eastern Cape provincial health department, the bodies will be transported to local morgues, where relatives are expected to assist in the identification of both male and female victims.
“We’re going to start autopsies right away so we can figure out what happened,” he said as forensic investigators worked at the crime scene at Enyobeni Tavern. As of right now, the cause of death is unknown.
“Right now, we’re talking about 22 bodies,” Manana continued. In an interview with a local television station, the club owner admitted that he had no idea what had happened overnight. Siyakhangela Ndevu, the tavern manager, says he’s not sure what happened, but he was told in the morning that the place was overflowing and that some people were attempting to force their way in.
“However, we will hear what the police say about the cause of death.”
An earlier report from Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana stated that the city’s Scenery Park, about two miles from the center of town, had been alerted to an unknown incident. Kinan said the victims were between the ages of 18 and 20.
According to Kinana, “The circumstances under which they died are currently being investigated,” and it is too early to conclude their cause of death.
Prime Minister Oscar Mabuyane did not speculate on the cause of death but criticized “unlimited consumption of liquor,” according to the BBC.
He believes “you can’t just trade in the middle of society like this and think that young people aren’t going to experiment.” “We don’t know what’s happened here,” Mabuyane told reporters, according to the New York Times. There is absolutely no way that this is the case. So I’m outraged by what’s happening here.”
After the deaths, a 17-year-old girl named “Lolly,” who lives near the tavern, says she and others in the area believe the establishment should be shut down. She said everyone wants it to shut down because they sell alcohol to minors. But, due to what happened, “everyone is infuriated and saddened.”