CAPE TOWN— South African police said 17 people were found dead in a tavern in the country’s southeastern city of East London early Sunday, local media reported.

“We do not want to make any speculations at this stage, our investigation is continuing,” provincial police spokesperson Tembinkosi Kinana told a local television. “We are hoping that at a proper time before the end of the day, we will know what exactly made the accident.”

The police and Emergency Service workers remain on the scene. Numerous people were also injured. A forensic investigation is also underway to determine the exact cause of the tragedy.

“Some of the residents are waiting, some of their children did not come home yesterday. So they are thinking some might be there. It is something that is not fathomable and they can’t understand what lead to it.”

Initial reports indicate that a stampede was triggered inside the tavern, an incident described as bizarre.

The spokesperson for the department of roads and safety, Unathi Binqose, says more detail will emerge during the day.

“We don’t know if they were poisoned or something else happened. The police are on the scene along with forensic experts to piece together what lead to this bad incident.”

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK