At least 14 artisanal miners found dead at a disused mine in South Africa, police say

At least 14 artisanal miners tragically died and eight others were injured when a mine in South Africa collapsed, according to police. The incident occurred near the city of Rustenburg, a prominent hub for platinum mining in South Africa. Police are still searching for potential additional victims and are utilizing sniffer dogs and specialized equipment for the search.

The cave-in happened on Monday night while the miners were working illegally near Rustenburg. Three injured miners were released from a hospital and placed under arrest for illegal mining, while the remaining two are under police guard. Most of the deceased miners were reportedly from Lesotho. Illegal mining, often carried out by individuals known as zama zamas, is a widespread issue in South Africa, frequently involving criminal syndicates and violent clashes.

The South African government has recently deployed soldiers to combat organized crime, with a focus on illegal mining.