Emergency services say that 49 miners have been recovered from a collapsed South African mine.
Over 60 people are still unaccounted for after a gold mine in Mpumalanga province in northeastern South Africa caved in.
South Africa's mines are the deepest and among the most dangerous in the world.
Manzini Zungu, spokesman for the Association of
Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), said some 115 union members
were trapped underground after a cave-in at the Makonjwaan Gold Mine in
Barberton, Mpumalanga province, on Friday morning (local time).
"At this point it's unclear what caused the disaster," he said
The mine is located about 360 km east of Johannesburg.
A
spokesman for the ER24 rescue service said 49 miners had so far been
brought to the surface, and that they had sustained only minor injuries.
Fatalities
in the industry have been falling due to both improved safety practices
and a reduction in the labour force as production declines.
Last year, 77 workers were killed in mining accidents, the lowest number on record.
AAP
Post a Comment