Toxic gas leak in South Africa kills at least 16, including 3 children

A toxic gas leak has resulted in the deaths of at least 16 people, among them three children, in the outskirts of the South African city of Johannesburg.

The Associated Press attributed the 16 figure to local police, but noted that emergency services had put the count at 24 dead.

Wednesday's deaths stemmed from a leak in a gas cylinder in the area, according to emergency services spokesman William Ntladi, who noted that an investigation is ongoing. The cylinder, Ntladi stated, is believed to have been part of an illegal mining operation and was allegedly used to process gold.

Johannesburg is situated in a mineral-rich area and unlicensed mining operations are a common illegal enterprise.

Though two injured persons were rushed to the hospital, authorities have not moved the bodies of the death due to an ongoing investigation.

"The bodies are still where they are on the ground. We can't move anybody," Ntladi stated. 

That presumably includes the children, whom police said were ages 1, 6, and 15.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.