Five Miners Presumed Dead in South Africa Mine Mudslide

South African authorities have declared five diamond miners presumed dead following a mudslide that trapped them deep underground at the Ekapa Mine in Kimberley on February 17. The incident occurred early that Tuesday morning, leaving the workers buried more than 800 meters below the surface in a sudden rush of mud and water.

Mining Minister Gwede Mantashe announced the presumption of death during a press conference on Friday, after visiting the site alongside Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul. "The possibility of life is minimal," Mantashe said, noting the time elapsed since the event. He emphasized that rescue efforts would shift toward recovering the bodies once conditions allow, with the chief inspector of mines set to investigate the water source and causes after retrieval. Ekapa Minerals, the mine operator, halted all production at the Joint Shaft Mine immediately after the mudslide and redirected resources to the operation.

Rescue teams from multiple mining companies, including specialized Mine Rescue Services, have been working around the clock in a coordinated effort. Six teams are rotating shifts to dewater two affected areas on the 890-meter level, install pumps to...