20 die of anonymous cause at a South African nightclub

Johannesburg: At least 20 people were reported dead in the coastal town of East London in South Africa, and police informed that they are investigating the deaths, which happened in a nightclub, Associated Press (AP) reported.

There is no initial information on the reason behind the deaths reported on Sunday morning. The deceased were youngsters who were attending a party to celebrate the end of winter school examinations.

According to the local daily Daily Dispatch, the dead bodies were strewn across tables and chairs, and there were no visible signs of injuries.

"At this point, we cannot confirm the cause of death," said health department spokesperson Siyanda Manana. "We are going to conduct autopsies as soon as possible to establish the probable cause of death. The deceased have been taken to state mortuaries," Manana added.

The owner of the club, Siyakhangela Ndevu, told local media that he was summoned to the spot early morning on Sunday. "I am still uncertain about what really happened, but when I was called in the morning, I was told the place was too full and that some people were trying to force their way into the tavern," he said and added, "However, we will hear what the police say about the cause of death."