VIDEO: Three people have been confirmed dead and 40 others are rushed to hospital after a mine dam wall mud slide in Jagersfontein Free State

Three people have been confirmed dead and 40 others are rushed to hospital after a mud slide in Jagersfontein Free State. Residents in the area are vacating their houses. EMS & other services deployed to the area.

A dam at South Africa’s abandoned Jagersfontein diamond mine collapsed early Sunday, triggering heavy flooding that damaged property and killed at least three people. 

About nine houses were swept away and more than 20 damaged by flood waters after the dam wall of the historic mine collapsed, Nathi Shabangu, a spokesman the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said via SMS.

The company managing a mine where a tailings dam wall collapsed on Sunday, sending a deluge of mud and water through a small town in the Free State, says a team of experts will be assessing the incident.

Marius de Villiers, speaking on behalf of Jagersfontein Developments (Pty) Ltd, said there would be a full investigation into what happened at Jagersfontein.

“At this stage the emergency protocols are in place to try to limit damage,” he said on Sunday.

The company confirmed there was a slimes dam wall breach at the processing operations.

“The management of Jagersfontein Development (Pty) Ltd has activated its emergency and disaster management protocols and are assessing the situation together with the department of water affairs and local emergency services. A full team of experts will be assessing the situation. Further updates will be issued,” the company said in a brief statement.

VIDEO HERE.