"We have just received information from the scene that one person has been rescued," said Captain Cherelle Ehlers.

"The person is being treated for shock and minor injuries."

No further information was available.

Earlier, Ehlers said 19 illegal miners were trapped underground, but that rescue workers were talking to them. Their condition was unknown.

A disused tunnel in the mine collapsed, trapping the men who had been illegally digging for diamonds. Eleven escaped and alerted the police that there were people underground.

"The miners are trapped in tunnels at the Bontekou mine in Kleinzee," said Ehlers.

The mine closed the tunnels in April.

Police and rescue teams from Kommagas, Kleinzee, Port Nolloth, Upington, and Kimberley, and rescuers from the De Beers mine and the Nama Khoi disaster management were are at the scene.

It is thought the tunnel collapsed at about 3am on Tuesday. The area that caved in was about six metres deep and led to several tunnels and an underground waiting area.

Three of the 11 who escaped were admitted to a hospital in Springbok.

Ehlers said loose gravel was hindering rescue efforts.