South Africa earthquake claims first victim

Johannesburg - One person has been confirmed dead following an earth tremor on Tuesday, said emergency workers.

"A 31-year-old man was found deceased in an old mining village in Orkney, in the North West," said ER24 spokesperson Luyanda Majija.

"He was found lying under some debris."

Emergency workers were at the mining village, searching for mineworkers presumed to be trapped in 11 shafts.

Majija could not immediately confirm the name of the mine.

The United States Geological Survey reportedly said it was a 5.3 magnitude earthquake.