Seismic monitoring networks need to be improved and monitoring should continue, a panel examining seismic events in gold-mining areas said on Monday.
The panel, which was appointed after the quake in Stilfontein last year that killed two people and injured several dozen others, found that the 5,3-magnitude event there was due to mining activities.
”Seismic events will continue to occur as long as mining continues, and for some time after mining activities ceases, as events are likely to be triggered when worked-out mines flood,” said Ray Durrheim, of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, who was heading the panel.
”It is unlikely that the magnitudes of the events and intensity of the shaking will be significantly greater than the levels that have been experienced so far,” he said.
The panel recommended that seismic hazards should be taken into account when the future use of mining land is being considered.
It also recommended that a survey be done to identify buildings in gold-mining areas that could be damaged and even collapse during future seismic activity.
Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica said she and the department’s experts will study the recommendations. ”If there are any gaps into our policies we have to amend, we would do so,” Sonjica said.
She said the department will continue to work towards a system that could provide forewarning of seismic events. — Sapa