Rescue operation suspended at S. African mine

The rescue operations at the Lily Mine in Barberton near Mpumalanga Province has to be suspended because it is too risky, Zwane said.

“Before we can even send people further down, we want to make sure that it is safe enough for them also to go down and rescue the trapped three mine workers underground,”Zwane explained.

He made the announcement after geologists declared rescue mission “too dangerous” following a meeting with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) leaders and Lily Mine management.

On February 5, a container collapsed into a shaft, trapping more than 80 miners. Rescuers have saved 78 miners.
Another collapse was reported at the mine on Saturday, making it even more difficult for the rescue operations.
Conditions have become increasingly dangerous, rescuers said.

There have been no signs of life since Tuesday. The missing miners have been without food or water for days.

Zwane said a meeting would be held with the government and mining industry officials to improve safety.

Meanwhile, AMCU President Joseph Mathunjwa said they would have to monitor the situation over the next 48 hours.
“The ground is still not stable, they are monitoring it. It is not yet safe for any person to conduct any rescue mission,”he said.

Zwane has called on the management to compensate the families of the three mineworkers and those survivors.
He said families of the three miners should receive 200, 000 rand (about 12,500 US dollars) each and the surviving miners 50,000 rand (about 3,000 dollars). Enditem

Source: Xinhua