Race to Bring 3,000 Trapped Gold Miners to the Surface

By ED HARRIS

RESCUERS were today evacuating more than 3,000 workers trapped underground in a South African gold mine.

They were stranded in a cramped space more than a mile below the surface after a broken pipe severed power cables to a lift. Several hundred had been brought to the surface from the Elandsrand mine, 50 miles west of Johannesburg, by the early hours today.

Only 75 miners could be hauled clear at a time through a second lift shaft. Between 150 and 200 women were among those trapped.

“They look exhausted and very, very relieved,” National Union of Mineworkers spokesman Peter Bailey said of those rescued from an area where temperatures could reach 40C (104F).

Amelia Soares, spokeswoman for pit owner Harmony Gold Mining, said paramedics had reached the miners and none had been injured in the accident, which the company described as “very serious” but under control.

She said the bottom of the shaft, where they were trapped, was well ventilated and that the miners had access to water.

Rescuing all 3,200 would take some time, she said, as only 300 miners could be brought to the surface every hour.

Ms Soares said a “compressed pipe column” fell down the mineshaft, damaging steel work in the shaft and cutting electrical feeder cords connected to the lifts underground.

The damage was not noticed until late last night when miners working the day shift tried to surface. There had been no collapse or cave-in and there was no risk of flooding, added Ms Soares.

NUM president Senzeni Zokwana said it suspected negligence and that Harmony’s 24-hour operation could be to blame for the accident.

“We suspect negligence. Because of continuous operations there is no time to make adequate checks,” he said.

Another union spokesman claimed the mine shafts had not been properly maintained.

“Our guys there tell us that they have raised concerns about the whole issue of maintenance of shafts with the mine, but they have not been attended to,” Lesiba Seshoka said.

The Elandsrand mine is in the Witwatersrand Basin, which holds the world’s largest gold deposit. The mines there are among the deepest in the world but the industry has been in decline in recent years.

The current high price of gold is keeping many otherwise marginal pits open.

Mr Seshoka said South Africa’s mines have a poor safety record, with about 400 workers said to have been killed in accidents in the last two years.

Harmony Gold Mining chief executive Graham Briggs said he was confident all the miners would be brought to the surface in the small lift.

“There have been no injuries or deaths.

It may take as long as 10 hours, the cage (lift) is travelling fairly slowly to avoid ‘It may take as long as risks. I’m very confident all will come out.” The first miners emerged shortly before midnight. “I feel happy to be on the surface. It was hot, dusty and I am quite hungry now,” said 27-year-old Zandile Sindiwe.

Rescuers were in contact with the miners and clean air and water were being pumped down to them, added Mr Briggs.

Disgruntled relatives stood outside the mine offices, complaining that they had not been given enough information.

“I am very traumatised, exhausted, not knowing what is going on,” said Sam Ramohanoe, whose wife, Flora, 31, was among the trapped miners. He said they had to force the company to send a management official to talk to the families. “It is very unfair to us not knowing what is going on with our beloved ones.”

‘It may take as long as 1hours to get them out. The cage is going slowly to avoid risks’

(c) 2007 Evening Standard; London (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.