Up to 22 dead at nightclub after ‘poisoning’ as ‘bodies strewn on tables’

Family members and parents stood outside the tavern in East London, South Africa, shouting to get inside and calling out the names of loved ones as the horrific scene unfolded

Up to 22 people have been found dead after a possible “substance exposure” at a nightclub, with “bodies strewn on tables and chairs”.

Police and paramedics were called to the Enyobeni Tavern in the South African city of East London in the early hours of the morning.

However, according to local media reports, nearly two dozen people were found dead.

Desperate family members and parents stood outside trying to get inside while calling the names of loved ones, witnesses said.

South Africa’s news service Dispatch Live claimed a reporter was at the “horrific” scene – but the images were unfit for publication.

The cause of death is reportedly unknown at this time, but speculation at the tavern suggests the suitors may have been exposed to some sort of toxic substance such as a gas leak or there may have been a stampede.

The bodies are described as lying on chairs with no obvious signs of injury.

But South Africa’s police service SAPS claimed she didn’t want to speculate until her investigation was complete.

Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana told Newsroom Africa: “The SAPS confirms an incident where people were found dead at a tavern in Scenery Park in the East London area.

“We received this report in the early hours of Sunday morning. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated as we speak.

“We don’t want to speculate at this point, our investigations are ongoing.”

The popular Enyobeni Tavern is a club in Scenery Park, South Africa, in the British town of the same name on the south-east coast.

The port city built around the Buffalo River was originally known as Port Rex but was renamed in honor of the British capital in the mid-19th century.