BREAKING: Durban harbour freak accident claims six lives
Six people - including three SANDF members - have been killed after inhaling gas at its naval base at the Durban harbour.
SANDF spokesperson, Mafi Mgobozi says three contract workers from the Department of Public Works had been working in a sewer pit within the base when they alerted members to a gas leak in the Bayhead area of the port, near the Bluff.
Three SANDF members tried to help the contractors who were trapped in the pit. Initial reports suggest the victims had inhaled methane gas.
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"Unfortunately three members of the SANDF were trying to rescue these people. All in all, six people have died of which three are members of the SANDF. Paramedics were called and declared them dead on scene. The police will conduct an investigation to determine the real cause of the accident," Mgobozi said.
Rescue Care's Garrith Jamieson who has been speaking to Newswatch from the scene says there was a leakage in a sewer pit.
Jamieson says paramedics have treated the last of the patients and they are being taken through to hospital.
Emergency services say about 20 other people were hurt in the incident.