At least 50 foreign nationals are reported to have fled a house in Lombardy East, north of Johannesburg, on Wednesday, in what authorities suspect may be linked to human trafficking.

According to initial reports, the group escaped from a property in the residential area under circumstances that remain unclear. Police were dispatched to the scene and have launched an investigation, but no arrests have been made. The whereabouts of both the escapees and any potential captors are currently unknown.

A police spokesperson confirmed that officers are working to establish the facts, with early indications pointing to a possible human trafficking operation. Gauteng police have yet to issue a full statement, and details about the nationalities or conditions of the escapees remain limited.

The incident echoes a similar event in January, when authorities rescued 15 Ethiopian nationals from a house in the same Lombardy East area. That operation uncovered suspected human trafficking activities, with 11 of the victims requiring hospital treatment. Dozens of others, many found naked, fled the scene at the time. It is not yet known if the two cases are connected.

Local residents expressed shock at the recurrence of such incidents in the quiet suburb. Authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward as they piece together the circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s escape.

This is a developing story, and further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.