The Voice News :A gold mine collapse in Johannesburg, South Africa, has left 289 workers trapped underground. The incident occurred at the Kloof gold mine, about 60 kilometers west of Johannesburg, operated by mining and metal processing company Sibanye-Stillwater. The company confirmed the ongoing rescue efforts in a statement released on Friday.
According to the statement, the accident took place on Thursday in Shaft No. 7 of the mine. The trapped workers are reportedly safe and have gathered in a secure underground location. The National Union of Mineworkers in South Africa stated that the incident occurred at around 10 PM local time.
A company spokesperson confirmed that all workers are currently safe and have been supplied with food. However, no specific details regarding the cause of the accident have been disclosed. The rescue process is being conducted in accordance with standard safety protocols, and the spokesperson expressed hope that the operation would be completed by Friday afternoon.
South Africa is home to some of the world’s oldest and deepest gold mines, and accidents in these mines are not uncommon. Earlier this year, at least 78 bodies were recovered from an illegally operated gold mine in the country.
Sibanye-Stillwater is one of the few companies still profiting from South Africa’s gold mines. Around 14% of its total gold production comes from the Kloof mine. The affected Shaft No. 7 operates nearly two miles underground, while operations continue in two other shafts at the same site.
