Hundreds of Gold Miners Trapped Underground, Rescue Underway

South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) had earlier told the media it had received reports of around 300 miners trapped in the shaft since 10 p.m. local time on Thursday.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): There are 289 workers trapped underground in the Kloof gold mine's number seven shaft in South Africa, its operator Sibanye-Stillwater said, but all are safe and accounted for and would soon be rescued.

A spokesperson for Sibanye told Reuters the company is 'busy with making safe and shaft exam procedures, whereafter we will then hoist the employees out to surface,' which it expects to have completed by midday on Friday, May 23.

South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) had earlier told the media it had received reports of around 300 miners trapped in the shaft since 10 p.m. local time on Thursday.

A door opened while ore was being hauled to the surface, and the spilled debris damaged the shaft, causing the miners to become trapped, South Africa's Daily Maverick reported.

'We don't want to let the employees walk far distances at this time and hence it's best for them to stay where they are at the station until it is safe to proceed to the surface,' a Sibanye spokesperson told the Daily Maverick. 'We are in the process of also providing them with food.'

Newsweek has contacted the National Union of Mineworkers via email for comment. Newsweek has also contacted Sibanye-Stillwater for comment via email to its communications office.

According to Sibanye-Stillwater's website, Kloof is an 'intermediate to ultra-deep level gold mine' located around 60km west of Johannesburg.

The life of the mine is due to end in 2033. Around 8,900 employees and contractors were working on the mine as of the end of 2023. That year, Kloof shaft four was closed 'due to economic and safety considerations,' the company's website says.

Courtesy: www.newsweek.com