Ekapa Mine tragedy: All five trapped miners recovered

All five miners who were trapped underground at Ekapa Mine in Kimberley have been recovered.

The recovery follows the retrieval of two bodies on Sunday. 

The remains of one miner were found about two weeks ago, after the group became trapped in a mudslide. 

Mine rescue teams completed the operation after weeks of efforts to reach the trapped workers. 

The first body was brought to the surface last Monday, and the remaining bodies were retrieved over the weekend.

Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe arrived at the mine on Monday, March 23. 

“Minister Gwede Mantashe has arrived at Ekapa Minerals following the discovery of mine workers who lost their lives in a mud rush incident,” the department confirmed on X.

The incident has drawn attention to the challenges facing the mine, which employed more than 1 000 workers. 

The company has since shut down operations and applied for liquidation, leaving workers without jobs and unpaid salaries.

IOL News