14 illegal miners found dead at abandoned South Africa mine

At least 14 artisanal miners are dead and scores injured at a disused mine in South Africa, police reported on Tuesday, Aug 11.

The South African Police Service said the miners were found dead at a mine near the city of Rustenburg, around 130 km north-west of Johannesburg.

The national police service did not give further details on the circumstances of the deaths, but said the provincial police commissioner was on the way to the mine.

South Africa has tens of thousands of artisanal miners working illegally in gold and platinum mines no longer used by mining companies. The informal miners often operate without proper safety equipment and sometimes stay underground for weeks searching for leftover deposits.

Informal mining is a deep-rooted problem in South Africa and is linked to criminal syndicates, with informal miners often operating in gangs that sometimes fight violent battles with rivals.

Rustenburg is a hub for platinum mining in South Africa, which has the largest platinum reserves in the world.