- Five miners were trapped underground at Ekapa diamond mine in Kimberley after a mud rush incident.
- Rescue teams are working to reach the workers as unions and officials demand full transparency.
- The incident has renewed focus on mine safety and emergency response standards in South Africa.
FIVE mine workers are still trapped underground after a mud rush flooded part of a diamond mine in Kimberley, South Africa, officials reported on Tuesday.
The incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday at Ekapa Mining in the Northern Cape, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) said.
According to COSATU, the miners are believed to be around 800 metres below the surface, based on information from the company.
Howard Marsden, the general manager of Ekapa Mining, told public broadcaster SABC that rescue teams are currently pumping water from the affected shaft while drilling towards the area where the men are thought to be trapped.
“We’re trying to establish communication with them or find any proof of life,” Marsden said.
The company has not disclosed the names of the miners but said that it is working closely with emergency services and providing support to the families.
COSATU has been in contact with the company and has requested regular updates.
“Our immediate concern is to ensure the workers are brought back safely,” the federation said. “Families must receive full and transparent information.”
The Minerals Council South Africa has sent a senior technical team to assist Ekapa with the rescue efforts and to support the affected workers and their families.
While South Africa’s mining industry has seen improvements in safety over the past decade, serious incidents still occur.
The Minerals Council reported that 41 miners lost their lives in mining accidents in 2023, marking a record low compared to historical figures.
Mud rushes, which occur when loose, water-saturated material collapses into underground workings, are a known risk in deep mining operations.
Ekapa Mining has yet to provide a detailed explanation of what caused Tuesday’s incident, and authorities have not announced an independent investigation.
Kimberley, historically the heart of South Africa’s diamond industry, continues to be an active mining hub.
Rescue operations in deep-level mines can last several days, especially when flooding and unstable ground make access routes tricky.
By late Tuesday, company officials reported that drilling towards the trapped miners was still in progress. However, there had been no confirmation of contact with the men yet.
