/ 21 June 2009

Mine death toll reaches eight

Two miners died and eight were rescued, including three injured, following a fall of ground at the Driefontein Gold Fields mine near Carletonville, the National Union of Mineworkers said on Sunday.

Spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said two workers died of injuries and their bodies were brought to the surface around 2am on Sunday.

One injured worker was rescued early on Sunday morning, leaving one worker missing underground.

The incident occurred at shaft five, after a ground fall at about 10:30am on Saturday.

”A ground fall caused rocks to fall and block entrances and exits,” Seshoka said on Saturday.

”It is quite a difficult rescue operation, as rocks are falling as workers try to get deeper into the mine.” – Sapa