Archive · 11 Aug 2026
14 Illegal Miners Killed in South African Mine Rockfall
Some people go into old, empty mines to dig for valuable rocks, even though it is against the law.
These people are called illegal miners.
One of these old mines is in South Africa.
On Tuesday, August 11, the ground inside the mine fell in.
This is called a rockfall.
Sadly, 14 miners died because of the rockfall.
Eight more miners were hurt very badly and needed medical help.
The police told people what happened.
They are not yet sure exactly why the rocks fell.
They also do not yet know the names or countries of the miners who were hurt or killed.
Fourteen illegal miners died at a disused mine in South Africa on Tuesday, August 11.
Police said a rockfall was the likely cause of the deaths.
Eight other miners were seriously injured in the incident.
A police spokeswoman confirmed the deaths to news agency AFP.
Authorities have not released the mine's exact location, the circumstances of the rockfall, or the nationalities of those killed and injured.
- Who
- Illegal miners working at a disused mine in South Africa, with confirmation from police and a police spokeswoman speaking to AFP.
- What
- Fourteen illegal miners were killed and eight others seriously injured in an incident at the disused mine.
- When
- Tuesday, August 11.
- Where
- A disused mine in South Africa; the exact location has not been released.
- Why
- Police say a rockfall was the likely cause of the deaths; further circumstances have not been released.
- Fatalities
- 14 illegal miners
- Seriously injured
- 8 miners
- Likely cause
- Rockfall
- Location
- Disused mine in South Africa (exact location undisclosed)
- Date
- Tuesday, August 11
- Confirmed by
- South African police statement and police spokeswoman
- Reported by
- News agency AFP