Rock Collapse at Gold Mine Kills Four Mineworkers

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Four mineworkers were killed and one seriously injured following an incident of rock collapse at a South African gold mine. The accident took place at the Village Main Reef’s Tau Lekoa gold mine in North West province of Orkney in the country.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) criticized the company, by pointing out that the workplace lacked escape route. It also alleged that the company’s trained staff failed to act quickly in saving the trapped miners. Moreover, the team was deliberately stopped from carrying out rescue operation. The NUM’s observations are based on briefing made by its members who were direct witnesses of the incident, it said. Also, the union expressed concerns over the safety practices followed at the mine site.

ALSO READ: Fatal Dam Collapse Reported at Siberian Gold Mine

However, Village Main Reef spokesperson noted that the rock fall followed two seismic events- one measuring 2.3 and another 2.1 in the mine Friday afternoon. The company said that it is unwilling to comment on the factors that led to the mishap as well as the evacuation formalities followed in the mine, until the ongoing investigation is complete. Also, he declined to comment on the accusations made by the workers’ union.

A similar incident had occurred at the mine in 2017, which also had killed four mineworkers.

The mine accidents had resulted in 81 deaths in South Africa during the previous year, recording year-on-year decline when compared with 90 deaths in 2017.