TUESDAY, 4.00PM
TEN miners are confirmed dead at Avgold’s Hartebeesfontein mine near Stilfontein in North-West province, after an earth tremor precipitated a rockburst on Monday morning.
As rescue operations continue at the mine, hopes are fading that eight miners who remain trapped three kilometres underground are still alive. So far, 46 injured miners have been brought to the surface, of whom at least 30 were hospitalised, one in the intensive care unit of the Duff Scott Memorial Hospital in Stilfontein.
North-West Premier popo Molefe and Deputy Mineral and Energy Affairs Minister Susan Shabangu visited the mine on Tuesday. Shabangu said afterwards that an inquiry will be held into the accident. Molefe said the provincial government is satisfied with the steps taken and expressed his condolences to the families of those who had died.