At least eleven people died on Monday and another 75 were injured in an underground mine accident in northern South Africa, the company that owns the mine confirmed on Tuesday. Impala Platinum.
“On Monday, November 27, 2023, personnel were hauling 11 workers to the surface of the well at the end of their shift. At 16:54 (14:54 GMT) The transporter began to descend unexpectedly.” before stopping when its counterweight became trapped, the company said Tuesday in a statement posted on social network X (formerly Twitter).
“The rescue operation at the mine ended and all 86 employees are located“he added, specifying that the injured were transported and admitted for “treatment in four hospitals in the region.”
The accident happened in the city Rustenburgin the North West Province of South Africa.
“This is the darkest day in the history of Implats (as the company is also known) and our hearts go out to the lives lost and the individuals affected by this devastating accident,” he said. Nico Muller, CEO of the company.
“Implats offers support to families and colleagues killed in the line of dutyhe added without giving further details.
All operations have been suspended this Tuesday at the mine, while an investigation has been launched into the cause of the accident.