Archive · 11 Aug 2026
South Africa mine dump collapse kills 14 illegal miners
This story is about a very sad accident at a big pile of old mining dirt in South Africa.
Some miners were digging through the pile to find metals like platinum.
The pile of dirt suddenly collapsed, like a wet sandcastle falling down.
At least 14 miners died and 8 more were hurt.
Police and rescue teams are searching for other miners who may still be trapped.
The miners were working without official permission, which is why they are called 'illegal miners.'
Some illegal mining is run by criminal groups.
The injured miners came from a nearby country called Lesotho.
Illegal mining costs South Africa a lot of money every year.
Authorities are still trying to find out how many people are trapped and to help them.
At least 14 suspected illegal miners were killed and eight injured when a mine dump collapsed in South Africa's North West province on Monday night, police said.
The collapse occurred as the miners were digging for platinum group metals at a disused dump on a private company's site near Rustenburg.
Search and rescue operations were under way for an unknown number of people who may still be trapped at the site.
The injured miners are from the Southern African country of Lesotho, while the nationality of those killed has yet to be confirmed.
Illegal mining, ranging from small-scale theft to operations run by organised criminal networks, costs the government and mining industry hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
- Who
- At least 14 suspected illegal miners (killed) and 8 miners (injured), with provincial police commissioner Arthur Peter Adams leading the response.
- What
- A disused mine dump collapsed while suspected illegal miners were digging for platinum group metals, killing at least 14 and injuring 8.
- When
- Monday night, August 11.
- Where
- A disused dump on a private company's site near Rustenburg, North West province, South Africa.
- Why
- The miners were digging for platinum group metals at the dump, which collapsed during the operation.
- Deaths
- At least 14 suspected illegal miners
- Injured
- 8 miners, reportedly from Lesotho
- Location
- Disused mine dump near Rustenburg, North West province, South Africa
- Date
- Monday night, August 11
- Target mineral
- Platinum group metals
- Site type
- Disused dump on a private company's property
- Search and rescue
- Ongoing; unknown number of people may still be trapped
- Cost of illegal mining
- Hundreds of millions of dollars per year in lost sales, taxes and royalties