After earlier reports had claimed that at least 17 people were found dead at an East London, South African club, official reports have confirmed the number of dead bodies found were 22.
The dead bodies were found with no wounds in what has left the public wondering about what led to their demise.
Young clubbers aged between 18 and 20 were found dead on Sunday morning, with Police Spokesman Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana saying they were alerted by members of the public about the Scenery Park incident.
“The circumstances under which they died are under investigation,” Kinana had said in the morning.
The bodies have been taken to different mortuaries where the relatives of the deceased are expected to help identify them.
“We are going to immediately be embarking on autopsies so we can know the probable cause of death,” he said. “We are talking 22 bodies right now.”
Unathi Binqose, an official of the Eastern Cape Community and Safe Department said it couldn’t have been a stampede as there were no visible wounds.
“It’s difficult to believe it’s a stampede as there are no visible open wounds to those dead,” Binqose said. “Parents whose children did not sleep home are gathered here and they want to enter the tavern to look for their loved ones.”
The tavern where the incident happened, according to locals is a place where teenagers frequent and they drink and smoke at. South African locals, especially those near the incident have expressed sadness and anger about the untimely deaths of the teenagers.