Johannesburg (AP) – Rescue work is underway in South Africa, bringing 260 workers trapped in gold mines to the ground, Sibani Stillwater Mining said Friday.
According to the company, preliminary investigations revealed that a sub-axle rock music jump opened at the loading point and caused some damage to the Kloof mine west of Johannesburg.
“After a detailed risk assessment, it was decided that employees should stay at the sub-axle station until they can safely surface to avoid long treks at this time,” the company said in a statement.
The National Alliance of Miners, which represents workers on Kloof miners, said miners had been trapped for nearly 24 hours, and the company repeatedly changed the estimated time they returned to the ground.
“We are very worried because the mine did not even disclose the incident until we reported it to the media,” said Num spokesman Livhuwani Mammburu.
The company said all miners were responsible and safe, adding that it expected to carry them back to the ground on Friday.
