At least 17 people were found dead inside a nightclub in East London, a town in South Africa, on Sunday, police said. The victims were aged between 18-20 years.

Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said cops arrived at the scene early Sunday after receiving reports from the public. 

At the nightclub, authorities found bodies lying strewn across tables, chairs, and on the floor. No injury marks were found on the bodies, Times Live reported. 

“The circumstances under which they died are under investigation,” Kinana told Reuters.

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Speaking to AFP news agency from the scene, Eastern Cape provincial community and safety department official Unathi Binqose ruled out a stampede as the cause of death.

“It’s difficult to believe it’s a stampede as there are no visible open wounds to those dead,” Binqose told the agency. 

“Parents whose children did not sleep home are gathered here and they want to enter the tavern to look for their loved ones,” Binqose added.

The patrons were reportedly students who were “celebrating pens down, a party held after writing (high school) exams.”

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Police vehicles and ambulances were at the scene and cops did not know if there are any survivors from the incident.

This is a developing story