All the miners were rescued. According to the mining company, no injuries were found Credit: Sibanye Stillwater Mining Co
Approximately 260 miners were trapped underground in a gold mine about an hour west of Johannesburg, South Africa, and rescued for more than a day. None of them were injured.
“260 miners have been rescued from all miners trapped underground at the Kroof mine at Sivany Stillwater in West Naria,” Kaya News reported on Saturday.
Miners were trapped by shaft failures and damaged the winding infrastructure. Mining company Sibanye Stillwater said no one has been injured, but all miners will receive a medical evaluation.
“There was no risk of injuries to employees during the incident. This occurred when the Kloof 7 subshaft lock winder skip door opened at a level 39 load point, affecting levels 40, 41, etc.” The mining company said. press release.
Safety remains a priority
“Safety remains our priority and we will not resume operations until we are confident that all necessary corrective actions are in place. We would like to thank our management, mine rescue and medical team for ensuring that our colleagues return safely to our families.”
Meanwhile, mining associations NUM and AMCU have accused the company of claiming it took a while to report the incident. Work has resumed on site as the bus continues to unload other miners on this shaft.
“Fortunately, there were no deaths or injuries,” Duncan Lebuno, chairman of the Health and Safety at the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), told journalists on the site. “But for 24 hours, people weren’t eating or drinking anything. This isn’t enough. Some people have chronic illnesses.”
Security guards banned journalists from going near the mine shaft. Still, Reuters Reporter Looking at some of the miners, it appears tired, but in good health I walked to the company grounds and the area around the board bus.
Kloof Mine, which accounts for 14% of Sibanye’s total gold production, also operates two other shafts, according to Reuters. The company mines metals from the Platinum Group in South Africa and the US.
Mining accidents are not uncommon in South Africa, where informal miners take over many abandoned mines. At least the beginning of the year 78 bodies were pulled From illegal gold mines after police blocked food and water supply for months to crack down on illegal mining activities.
