THURSDAY, 2.30PM:
RESCUE operations at Gold Fields’ Deelkraal mine have been halted following this morning’s discovery of a ninth body after two seismic tremors last night caused rockfalls 2,6km down the mine. Mineral and Energy Affairs Minister Penuell Maduna is at present visiting the mine, following which he will visit injured miners in hospital.
Following the mid-morning discovery of the body of the last missing miner, rescue operations were halted, leaving the confirmed death toll at nine. Mine representative Andrew Davidson said the search and rescue was called off after it was established that nobody else is missing. A further 24 miners were injured in the rockfall at the mine’s number one shaft. Two were airlifted in a serious condition to the Rand Mutual Hospital in Johannesburg. The remaining 22 are in a satisfactory condition in the Leslie Williams Memorial Hospital in Carletonville.
Mine management will conduct an inquiry into the accident, followed by an inquiry by the government mines inspectorate.