Between three to five people are suspected to be dead after a mine dam burst in Jagersfontein in the Free State.

This was announced by Gwede Mantashe, Minister of Mineral Resources, during a media briefing this afternoon.

According to him, at least four people are in hospital with critical injuries, while another 28 people have sustained minor injuries.

According to Mantashe, nine houses were swept away by the water. About 20 houses were severely damaged.

📌In the News: Gift of the Givers on SABC 404 at 1pm today discussing dam wall collapse in #Jagersfontein 📍.#GiftoftheGivers #MakeADifference #ForTheGreaterGood #DisasterResponse #SA #SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/xQjPFj7LiV

— Gift of the Givers (@GiftoftheGivers) September 11, 2022

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) released a media statement this afternoon, saying the incident happened at around 06:00 this morning.

“The tailings of the abandoned local mine burst open leading to damages to infrastructure, personal property and homes. The untold damages in and around the community of Charlesville in Jagersfontein are extensive and has had negatively impacted the community.

“Some people are displaced, others lost property, whilst others are reported injured and missing,” the media statement read.

Cogta says multi-disciplinary teams consisting of the police, emergency medical services, health, disaster management, social development, search and rescue personnel and engineers from the mine responded immediately and are on the scene where search, rescue, immediate relief and stabilization operations are underway.

“The reports received thus far is that the flow of the water has ceased and the immediate threat is being stabilized. The injured persons have been provided with on scene emergency medical care and is being transported to local hospitals. Assessments are under way to identify & account for all residents of the affected area.”

Developing

Jagersfontein, Diamond mine in Free State burst this morning, Roads and houses near the mine have been destroyed

Residents have been moved to safety pic.twitter.com/5hGKz3x785

— News Live SA (@newslivesa) September 11, 2022

According to Cogta, the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) is coordinating with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) and other stakeholders to ensure that assistance needed is provided where required.

“The NDMC has deployed staff members to the affected area to assess the damage and impact and to provide direct operational support.”

Mine dam wall reportedly collapsed near Jagersfontein https://t.co/d4qCMU1UnG #ArriveAlive #VRMED pic.twitter.com/aujBnxTKLe

— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) September 11, 2022