260 Miners Trapped Underground in South Africa's Kloof Gold Mine

Rescue operations are underway at the Kloof gold mine near Johannesburg, South Africa, where 260 miners have been trapped underground sincethe evening of May 22, 2025. The incident occurred due to a malfunction in a sub-shaft rock winder skip door, which caused damage to the mineshaft.

Sibanye Stillwater, the company operating the mine, reported that all trapped miners are safe and accounted for. The workers are currently gathered at a designated underground assembly point and are being provided with food while safety assessments are conducted.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has expressed concern over the company's delayed public disclosure of the incident and inconsistent communication regarding the rescue timeline. NUM spokesman Livhuwani Mammburu stated, "We are very concerned because the mine did not even make this incident public until we reported it to the media."

Sibanye Stillwater aims to safely bring the miners to the surface by Friday, May 23, 2025. The Kloof mine, located about 60 kilometers west of Johannesburg, is one of the company's most significant operations, contributing 14% of its gold output.

This incident highlights ongoing safety concerns in South Africa's deep and aging gold mines, where mining accidents are relatively frequent. Earlier this year, a separate tragedy claimed 78 lives at an illegal mining site.

Authorities and rescue teams continue to monitor the situation closely, prioritizing the safe return of all trapped miners.