Around 940 gold miners are trapped underground in South Africa after a power failure. The Sibanye-Stillwater mining company said a massive power outrage caused by a recent storm had prevented lifts from bringing workers on the night shift to the surface.
All employees are reportedly accounted for, and are being supplied with food and water, according to company spokesperson James Wellsted.
“We sent rescue teams down, accounted for all the people and we obviously are trying to get them out of there as soon as possible,” he told local media. “All employees appear to be fine. We are supplying food and water.”
About 60 people were rescued during the day, but engineers are struggling to get emergency generators to operate and re-start the lifts.
Wellsted said that it was uncertain how deep the miners are trapped, but it’s being reported that the mine has 23 levels, going down to about 1,000 meters. South Africa has some of the deepest gold mines in the world.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) says its “extremely concerned” about the safety of the miners, describing the situation as “extreme due to the sheer number of workers involved.”
It’s warned that dehydration, blood sugar issues, and lack of access to medication is threatening the lives of the trapped workers.
“The incident also raises serious concern regarding the lacking emergency contingency plans at the mine for alternative and back-up power generation,” it said.
“Mining is very unsafe and mineworkers risk life and limb daily to put bread on the table for their families. AMCU calls on Sibanye-Stillwater management to step up its rescue efforts so that these workers can be brought back to the surface as soon as possible.”
