Nineteen miners were injured, three seriously, in rockfalls at Carletonville’s East Driefontein mine on Monday morning, Gold Fields said.
This follows seismic activity measuring about 3,5 on the Richter scale at 8.10am.
”There are injuries, but no fatalities. It looks like everyone is accounted for,” spokesperson Willie Jacobsz said.
The three seriously injured miners are being treated for broken legs, arms and a broken back. Other miners’ injuries included minor scratches. The injured are being treated on the mine’s surface or in hospital.
The Council for Geosciences’ preliminary reports show that the seismic activity measured about 3,5 on the Richter scale, with its epicentre being in Carletonville, west of Johannesburg. Although the tremors were strong, this was a lower measurement than originally thought, Dr Andrzej Kijko said.
Paramedics and a rescue team descended into the Carletonville’s number four shaft and the mine is still assessing the full impact.
”All the workplaces collapsed,” National Union of Mineworkers branch representative Elias Mulaudzi said by telephone from the mine.
Earlier this month, five miners died at the mine’s number two shaft. — Sapa