South African officials believe they may have discovered what caused the deaths of 21 teenagers on June 26 at the Enyobeni Tavern in East London, a city in the country's Eastern Cape.

Dr. Litha Matiwane, provincial deputy director for clinical service, said on Tuesday (July 19) that investigators found methanol in all of their bodies, USA Today reports. Officials are now trying to determine whether the levels of the odorless toxic chemical were high enough to cause death.

The victims were found on floors and tables at the bar in the early hours, according to the BBC. They ranged in age from 13 to 17, but the legal minimum drinking age in South Africa is 18. Early in the investigation, officials ruled out a stampede as the cause of death because there were “no visible wounds” or signs of injuries to the bodies.

"The cause of death is a very sensitive issue. It is only time that will make people heal," USA Today quoted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who asked the public to respect the families’ privacy during the investigation.

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The initial toxicology report found nothing suspicious regarding alcohol and carbon monoxide levels, Matiwane stated, adding that officials await conclusive results from a Cape Town lab.

So far, officials have not charged anyone with a crime. But that could change after the lab releases a final toxicology report, National Police Minister Bheki Cele said.

Methanol, which is used in manufacturing products like antifreeze and paint remover, is often used to make illicit alcohol, South African public health expert Professor Sue Goldstein told the Associated Press. Even small amounts of the chemical can be lethal for human consumption.

“These are early stages, but we don’t know if there was homemade alcohol there and the levels of methanol which were found in the people who died,” Goldstein added.