Group of 22 people trapped underground in South Africa after coal mine explosion

Baku. 7 February. REPORT.AZ/ One man, believed to be an illegal miner, has died after an explosion at the shuttered Gloria Coal Mine in Mpumalanga.

The police's Brigadier Leornard Hlathi says another man, also believed to be an illegal miner, has been retrieved and is well.

The Middelburg Observer reported on Wednesday that a group of 22 people, believed to be Lesotho nationals, were trapped.

The publication reported that around 42 people had allegedly gone underground in an attempt to steal cables, when a gas explosion occurred.

On Wednesday afternoon, Hlathi said: "Two people were retrieved, unfortunately one is deceased."

Hlathi said the total number of illegal miners trapped underground was unclear.