Tavern tragedy: Carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning has emerged as a possible cause of the death of 21 teenagers at Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park, East London on Sunday.

Sources close to the investigation believe the children – aged 13 to 17 – could have been killed by toxic fumes that may have emanated from a petrol generator that was suspected to have been used inside the tavern.

Preliminary investigations point to the release of carbon monoxide in the tavern.

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Preliminary autopsy results are expected to be announced later this week.

A source said police crime scene experts found a petrol generator inside the venue where hundreds of young revellers partied from Saturday night into early hours of Sunday morning.

It’s unclear whether the petrol generator was running and how long it was on for. However, witnesses and survivors who were at the tavern during the incident confirmed there was no power at the venue, although there was no load shedding schedule.

The chief medical officer at the East London mortuary, Dr Solomon Zondi, told the Mail and Guardian a gaseous explosion at the tavern could be linked to the deaths.

He suggested a gaseous substance was released.

The Eastern Cape health department has confirmed forensic experts are doing a further analysis of samples the department sent to the University of Cape Town.

A source told News24 that analysts at UCT’s forensic pathology laboratory are finalising their work after having gone through the victims’ stomach contents.

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Eastern Cape health spokesperson Yonela Dekeda confirmed that samples were sent to Cape Town but declined to answer further questions, saying the matter is under police investigation.

She said the results would be sent to the police.

Dekeda added that the fact that the samples were sent to Cape Town did not mean there was a lack of capacity in the Eastern Cape.

“This is merely part of the routine work, that samples would be taken to Cape Town for further analysis, especially when there is an intervention at a national level,” Dekeda said.

The health department said it treated and discharged 16 survivors at its Empilweni Gompo Health Centre on Sunday.

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