South Africa’s Sibanye Stillwater reported today that a rescue operation is in progress for 289 miners trapped underground at its Kloof gold mine in the vicinity of Johannesburg.
The company’s spokesperson confirmed the incident at the Kloof 7 shaft and assured that procedures are underway to secure the area and conduct a shaft examination, following which the trapped workers will be hoisted to the surface.
The trapped miners are safe and accounted for. Sibanye Stillwater is in the process of supplying them with food. The company anticipates that the situation will be resolved by midday.
This development follows earlier reports that the National Union of Mineworkers had received word of the incident, which, according to their statement, occurred at around 1000 pm local time on Thursday.
Mine safety has long been a contentious issue in South Africa, raising important questions about industry regulations and worker protection.
