Trapped Miners: Why Underground Mining Disasters Persist and How to Stop Them for Good
Pinning hopes on innovation, enforcement, and compassion
In 2025, the global mining industry continues to grapple with a tragic recurring issue: miners trapped underground in both legal and illegal operations. Recent incidents, such as the devastating collapse in Akyem Wenchi, Ghana, where over 20 illegal miners perished in a pit collapse, and the prolonged crisis in South Africa’s Stilfontein, where nearly 80 illegal miners died after a months-long standoff in an abandoned gold mine, have reignited urgent calls for reform. These underground mining accidents highlight systemic failures that perpetuate danger for miners worldwide. This article explores why trapping of miners remain a persistent problem, the root causes of such mining disasters, and actionable solutions to ensure mine safety and prevention of future tragedies.
Underground mining accidents are alarmingly common. In Ghana, the Akyem Wenchi collapse in July 2025 left rescuers struggling to recover bodies from a hazardous illegal mining site. Similarly, South Africa’s Stilfontein crisis, widely reported in January 2025, saw illegal miners—known as “zama zamas”—succumb to starvation after authorities blocked supplies to abandoned shafts. These incidents echo historical disasters like the 2010 Copiapó mine collapse in Chile, where 33 miners were trapped for 69 days. Whether in legal or illegal mines, the risks of cave-ins, gas leaks, and inadequate rescue operations remain a global concern.
Several factors contribute to the ongoing issue of trapped miners:
Economic Desperation and Illegal Mining: In regions like South Africa and Ghana, high unemployment rates— over 30% and 14%, respectively—drive individuals to illegal mining. South Africa alone has an estimated 30,000 zama zamas operating in abandoned or poorly secured mines, lured by untapped gold reserves. These miners often bypass safety protocols, using dangerous methods like mercury extraction, increasing risks of collapse and toxic exposure.
Weak Safety Standards in Legal Mines: Legal mining operations frequently cut corners to reduce costs. Outdated infrastructure, insufficient ventilation, and lax regulatory enforcement heighten the risk of accidents. For instance, the Copiapó disaster exposed how even regulated mines can fail under inadequate oversight.
Abandoned Mines and Criminal Networks: Unsealed abandoned mines attract illegal miners and criminal syndicates. In South Africa, illegal mining costs the economy an estimated $3-4 billion annually, diverting funds from proper mine rehabilitation. Globally, organized crime fuels these operations, exploiting lax regulations to profit from illicit minerals.
Corruption and Regulatory Gaps: In many countries, corruption undermines enforcement of mining laws, allowing unsafe practices to persist in both legal and illegal operations.
Ending the cycle of trapped miners requires a comprehensive approach to improve mine safety and address root causes. These include:
(a) Effective Mine Closure and Rehabilitation
Governments must prioritize sealing abandoned mines to prevent illegal access. South Africa’s three-pronged strategy—promoting legitimate mining, rehabilitating mines, and supporting law enforcement—offers a blueprint but needs increased funding and private-sector collaboration.
(b) Legalizing Artisanal Mining
Formalizing small-scale mining, as proposed in Zimbabwe, can reduce illegal activity. By providing licensed opportunities and safety training, governments can protect artisanal miners while curbing hazardous practices.
(c) Stricter Safety Regulations
Legal mines must adopt modern technologies like satellite monitoring, advanced ventilation systems, and drone surveillance. Companies like Pan African Resources are already using drones and thermal cameras to combat illegal mining, a model that can enhance safety across the industry.
(d) International Cooperation
Initiatives like Peru’s Operation Mercury, which disrupted illegal mining networks, show the value of global collaboration. By targeting criminal syndicates and enforcing environmental and human rights standards, governments can reduce the risks tied to illegal mining.
(e) Addressing Poverty
Economic development programs to create alternative livelihoods can deter individuals from dangerous illegal mining, addressing the root cause of desperation. Mass poverty cannot be wished away, it is a time bomb that has potential to sink all of humanity.
The human toll of underground mining accidents—whether in legal or illegal operations—demands urgent action. Trapped miners are not just a statistic; they represent systemic failures that can be addressed through innovation, enforcement, and compassion. By investing in mine safety, rehabilitating abandoned shafts, legalizing artisanal mining, and tackling poverty, governments and industries can prevent future disasters.
I wish I won’t have to read of another collapse burying more lives.