Bodies recovered from South African mine after mud rush tragedy
The South African Police Service has since opened an inquest into the incident.
Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of all five mineworkers who were trapped underground following a mud rush at the Ekapa Minerals mine in Kimberley.
The incident occurred on February 17, when a sudden flow of water-saturated soil and debris surged through sections of the mine, trapping workers below ground.
A mud rush is a hazardous mining event in which saturated earth behaves like a fast-moving liquid, often with little warning.
Recovery efforts unfolded over several weeks. The first body was retrieved last Monday, followed by two more on Sunday morning. The final two bodies were brought to the surface in the early hours of Monday, bringing the operation to a close.
Investigations launched
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has since opened an inquest into the incident, state media SABC reports.
Provincial Police Spokesperson Cherelle Ehlers says, “Kimberley detectives are investigating an inquest…This follows a mud rush that occurred on Tuesday, 17 February 2026. The investigation continues.”
According to reports, more than 32,000 cubic metres of water and debris were cleared during the recovery operation, highlighting the scale of the collapse.
The company, which employed more than 1,000 workers, has applied for liquidation, and all mining operations at the Kimberley site have been suspended pending further investigations.
The incident adds to a history of mine-related trapping and fatal accidents in South Africa, where ageing infrastructure, illegal mining, and unstable ground conditions continue to pose risks.
Several illegal miners were trapped underground in Stilfontein in August 2024, with multiple fatalities reported.