Mine collapse traps at least six in South Africa

A mine tunnel collapsed on a group of illegal diamond miners in western South Africa, trapping at least six inside, diamond giant De Beers said Tuesday.

Rescuers pulled one person from the illegal tunnel at the edge of De Beers’ Namaqualand Mines operation in the west coast town of Kleinzee, but “six or more people are being searched for,” De Beers said in a statement.

Police said 19 miners were originally trapped in the tunnel, according to the Sapa news agency.

De Beers said it has been trying to deal with an influx of illegal miners who destroy fences, ignore signs, and dig dangerous tunnels that put their lives at risk.

“The company remains deeply concerned that people are illegally digging and thereby endangering themselves,” it said.

“The mine has requested trespassers and illegal diggers to leave the mine and the authorities have apprehended trespassers and illegal diggers.”

Accidents involving illegal miners are common in South Africa, where impoverished diggers often take great risks to carve out illegal tunnels or work in disused shafts at diamond and gold mines.