Mining company Sibanye-Stillwater said on Friday rescue efforts are under way for 289 mineworkers trapped underground at its Kloof gold mine near Carletonville, Johannesburg.
“We confirm we had an incident at Kloof 7 shaft and are making safe and shaft exam procedures, whereafter we will hoist the employees to the surface,” a spokesperson for Sibanye told Reuters.
All workers are safe and accounted for and the company was providing them with food. “We expect the situation to be resolved by about midday today [Friday],” the spokesperson said.
The National Union of Mineworkers said the accident had taken place at about 10pm on Thursday.
“They have been underground for almost 20 hours,” union spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu told TimesLIVE on Friday morning, saying they did not have confirmation that the trapped miners had access to food and water.
The Daily Maverick reported the door of a conveyance used to haul the ore to the surface opened, resulting in spilt debris damaging the shaft. No injuries were reported.
This is a developing story
Reuters and TimesLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.