/ 2 April 2003

Death toll at Anglogold mine rises to five

The death toll in the rockburst at South African gold miner AngloGold’s (ANG) TauTona mine near Carletonville has risen to five, with the recovery of the body of a fifth miner who was missing following the incident on Tuesday.

The rockburst was caused by a seismic event measuring 2,8 on the Richter scale, AngloGold said in a statement on Wednesday.

The incident occurred 3 410 metres below surface. Four employees were reported dead on Tuesday, while the fifth victim had been reported missing. One employee was admitted to hospital where he is in a stable condition.

An on-site inspection, involving the Inspector of Mines, representatives of the National Union of Mineworkers and mine management, will take place at TauTona on Wednesday.

”As was the case yesterday, production in the affected area has been halted. The rest of the mine, however, is operating as usual,” said AngloGold. – I-Net-Bridge