One mineworker of the 13 who were trapped by a rock fall following seismic activity at Sibanye-Stillwater‘s Driefontein Mine has been brought to the surface and is receiving medical attention.
The men were working about three kilometres underground at the mine on Gauteng’s Far West Rand when the collapse occurred.
Sibanye’s James Wellsted says four other miners have been located and are in contact with rescue workers, while eight others remain unaccounted for.
“We obviously mobilised the rescue teams who have now started to clear the area. It’s difficult to tell how long it’s going to take. Obviously we’ve got the rescue teams there but they’re working under very difficult conditions. You can imagine three kilometres underground. It’s extremely dangerous, particularly after a seismic incident. So we will continue to work until we’ve freed them all but I can’t say how long that will take.”
