4 South African soldiers killed in suspected carbon monoxide poisoning

The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) said Sunday that the police have launched an inquest after four SANDF soldiers were found dead Saturday in Orkney, North West Province, where they were on duty in an operation to tackle illegal mining, reported Xinhua.

The soldiers were deployed on a 24-hour shift at Shaft 3, a dormant mining shaft situated in Orkney, and were found dead Saturday morning inside a container structure that was used as a guard house for those on duty, the SANDF said in a statement.

Preliminary findings showed that the deaths of the soldiers could have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning from a possible fire they had made during the cold night inside the container structure.

The police have confirmed that the soldiers' rifles were on them and their items were still with them, according to the SANDF.

The SANDF said the bodies of the deceased were transported to the Klerksdorp state mortuary for further investigation.