Thirteen Illegal Diamond Miners Dead in Tunnel Collapse

(IDEX Online) - Thirteen miners who were illegally digging for diamonds at Kleinzee, in South Africa's Northern Cape, have died after tunnels collapsed

The so-called "zama zamas" were trapped underground as they tried to recover diamonds along the coastline where De Beers had an open cast mine from 1942 to 2009.

There is speculation that recent heavy rains may have made the ground unstable. Many of those involved have little or no technical or safety knowledge about digging tunnels.

Kleinzee attracts zama zamas from Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho, as well as Souht Africa, all desperate to work despite the dangers.

Kleinzee largely became a ghost town after De Beers ceased operations, but attracts an estimated 2,000 zama zamas daily, scouring for diamonds.

Police say the first tunnel collapse happened on Monday (31 July) and one body was recovered.

There was a second collapse the following day, Northern Cape police spokesperson Lt Col Sergio Kock told the state broadcaster SABC after which eight bodies were recovered.

And officers recovered another four the following day (2 August).

Despite the tragedy, illegal mining has continued in the days since, according to media reports.

Screengrab of zama zamas at Kleinzee, courtesy SABC