Rescue operation underway for five trapped miners at Ekapa Mine

File: Miners seen in as shaft

Management of Ekapa Mine in Kimberley, Northern Cape, has confirmed that a search and rescue operation is underway to find five mine workers who have been trapped following a mudslide since the early hours of Tiuesday morning.

Management says communication with the miners has been cut off and they remain unreachable for now.

Families of the missing miners have been informed. Rescue efforts are currently underway.

BREAKING NEWS: Miners trapped underground following a mudslide that occurred this morning at the Ekapa Mine in Kimberley, Northern Cape. For more visit pic.twitter.com/Xp9OBqO52j

— SABC News (@SABCNews) February 17, 2026

Ekapa Mine confirms mud rush incident

NUMSA

The National Union of Metalworkers (NUMSA) is seeking access to the Kimberley mine where mineworkers have been trapped.

The missing workers were caught in the mud rush in the early hours of Tuesday.

The mine says they have activated emergency response. Communication with the trapped miners has been cut off.

NUMSA Kimberley local secretary Tshimologo Mahase elaborates, “It’s really concerning and really bad news that what happened here at Ekapa. We are still here as NUMSA and don’t know what really happened. We’re waiting for management to confirm for us what happened and inside the mine so we can hear what happened to those workers who are trapped underground.”