The body of one of the five miners who went missing following an underground flood and mud rush at a Kimberley diamond mine last month has been recovered, bringing a tragic development in an ongoing recovery operation that has gripped the local community.
Mining companies Ekapa Resources and Ekapa Minerals confirmed on Monday that recovery teams had located and retrieved the remains of one miner at the Du Toitspan Joint Shaft.
The workers were reported missing on 17 February 2026 after a sudden underground water flood and mud rush occurred at the historic mining site in Kimberley in the Northern Cape.
In a statement, the companies said the miner’s family had been informed of the recovery.
“At the request of the family, the name of the miner will not be released at this time,” the company said.
Officials indicated that formal identification procedures are currently underway before further details can be made public.
The recovery marks the first confirmed casualty since the underground incident, which trapped five miners who were working in the shaft when water and mud rushed into the mining area.
The Du Toitspan Joint Shaft forms part of the broader Kimberley diamond mining complex, one of the oldest diamond mining areas in South Africa. The operation is run by Ekapa Resources and Ekapa Minerals, which mine diamond-bearing deposits in the region.
Recovery operations have continued for weeks following the disaster, with specialised teams working underground in difficult and potentially dangerous conditions.
According to the company, crews are proceeding carefully as they work to reach areas where the remaining four miners were last reported to be working at the time of the incident.
“The recovery operations underground continue as teams work methodically and safely to reach the remaining areas,” the statement said.
Mine rescue teams have been navigating unstable ground and flooded sections of the shaft, which have slowed progress in the search effort.
The company expressed condolences to the family of the deceased miner as well as to colleagues who worked alongside him.
“The company extends its deepest condolences to the family, colleagues and loved ones of the miner during this extremely difficult time,” the statement said.
The incident has raised concerns about underground safety and the dangers associated with flooding in deep mining operations, particularly in older shafts where geological conditions can change rapidly.
Authorities and the mining company have not yet confirmed the exact circumstances that led to the flood and mud rush underground.
Meanwhile, the families of the remaining missing miners continue to wait for news as recovery teams press ahead with the difficult operation.
Ekapa Resources and Ekapa Minerals said further updates will be provided as recovery efforts progress.
