The rescue operation to save two trapped miners at Impala Platinum Mine in Rustenburg is making good progress.
Impala Platinum spokesperson Johan Theron said on Thursday that the rescue teams made inroads overnight in clearing a path to where they believe the two rock drill operators are trapped underground.
“They [the rescue teams] have made their way up to where they [the miners] were last seen and where they were working‚ and now the rescue teams are working from that point backwards to look for the miners‚” Theron said.
The rescue teams had not been able to make contact with the trapped miners‚ Theron said‚ adding that 48 hours had already lapsed since the “fall of ground incident” which trapped the miners progress.
Theron said that rescuers should be quite close to where the miners should be‚ but their work has been hindered by larger rocks and unstable conditions.
Operations at the shaft were suspended when it collapsed on Tuesday‚ trapping a total of nine workers underground before seven were rescued.
Theron said that the six teams involved in the operation had worked through the night.
There are two access point to the area that the miners are believed to be trapped in‚ and Theron said that rescuers are moving in from both sides‚ using non-explosive techniques and tools to break the large rocks.
Theron said the cause of the accident is yet to be determined.
“At this stage‚ all effort is on the search and rescue operation. Once that is concluded there will be a comprehensive investigation‚” Theron said.
Four miners died earlier this year‚ in an underground fire at an Impala Platinum mine. According to police‚ the four men died due to smoke inhalation.
Rescue teams making inroads in reaching trapped miners
The rescue operation to save two trapped miners at Impala Platinum Mine in Rustenburg is making good progress.
Impala Platinum spokesperson Johan Theron said on Thursday that the rescue teams made inroads overnight in clearing a path to where they believe the two rock drill operators are trapped underground.
“They [the rescue teams] have made their way up to where they [the miners] were last seen and where they were working‚ and now the rescue teams are working from that point backwards to look for the miners‚” Theron said.
The rescue teams had not been able to make contact with the trapped miners‚ Theron said‚ adding that 48 hours had already lapsed since the “fall of ground incident” which trapped the miners progress.
Theron said that rescuers should be quite close to where the miners should be‚ but their work has been hindered by larger rocks and unstable conditions.
Operations at the shaft were suspended when it collapsed on Tuesday‚ trapping a total of nine workers underground before seven were rescued.
Theron said that the six teams involved in the operation had worked through the night.
There are two access point to the area that the miners are believed to be trapped in‚ and Theron said that rescuers are moving in from both sides‚ using non-explosive techniques and tools to break the large rocks.
Theron said the cause of the accident is yet to be determined.
“At this stage‚ all effort is on the search and rescue operation. Once that is concluded there will be a comprehensive investigation‚” Theron said.
Four miners died earlier this year‚ in an underground fire at an Impala Platinum mine. According to police‚ the four men died due to smoke inhalation.