A mine dam has collapsed in the diamond mining town of Jagersfontein in Free State province, killing four people and injuring 40 others, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister of Gwede Mantashe announced on Monday.
The minister said his officials evacuated scores of residents to nearby farms, while the injured were taken to hospitals for treatment.
Some nine houses were swept away by the dam waters, while 20 were completely damaged by flooding from the dam, Mantashe said.
Search and rescue efforts were continuing at the dormant diamond mine, a facility once owned by De Beers, a unit of Anglo American, he said.
“Compensation for fatalities, compensation in terms of damage to property will be taken as a responsibility of the company that owns the dam,” the minister told reporters.
“A detailed report on the circumstances surrounding the incident will be released upon compilation,” the office of the Free State Premier said on Monday.
NM/as/APA