Five diamond miners who have been missing since Tuesday are now presumed dead following a mudslide at the Ekapa mine in Kimberley, South African authorities confirmed on Friday. The miners were trapped more than 800 metres underground when the incident occurred at the central South African mine.
The country’s mining minister stated that operations have shifted from rescue to the recovery of the miners’ bodies. An official investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the mudslide. Ekapa Minerals, the company operating the mine, reported that all work at the site was halted immediately after the incident. While rescue efforts continue, the company’s General Manager acknowledged the grim outlook, stating, “We are not giving up hope,” in a formal release.
Kimberley, the site of the disaster, holds historic significance as the heart of the global diamond industry following the discovery of diamonds in the late 1800s. South Africa remains a major global producer of diamonds and gold and is the world’s top producer of platinum.
The tragedy occurs against a backdrop of improving safety records in the nation’s mining sector. According to the Minerals Council of South Africa, 41 people died in mining accidents in 2023, a record low and a significant decline from the hundreds of fatalities recorded annually in previous decades. This incident underscores the persistent risks inherent in deep-level mining, particularly in older, established operations.
The focus now remains on the recovery of the deceased miners and a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the mudslide. The findings are expected to inform future safety protocols across South Africa’s critical mining industry, which continues to be a cornerstone of the national economy.
