Methanol found in blood of teenagers who died in South African tavern

A view of the coffins during a funeral service held in Scenery Park, East London, South Africa, Wednesday, July 6, 2022. More than a thousand grieving family and community members are attending the funeral in South Africa’s East London for 21 teenagers who died in a mysterious tragedy at a nightclub nearly two weeks ago. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is due to give the eulogy for the young who died. (AP Photo)

A toxic chemical has been identified as a possible cause of the deaths of 21 teenagers at a bar in the South African city of East London last month.

Methanol was found in all their bodies and investigations are continuing to determine whether the levels of the chemical were enough to have killed them.