Rescue workers are searching for five mine workers missing after a fall of ground at the Tautona mine near Carletonville, AngloGold Ashanti said on Tuesday.
The fall follows two ”seismic events” that happened about 25 minutes apart on Monday afternoon, said spokesperson Steve Lanahan.
Two other miners were rescued soon after the incident.
One suffered minor injuries and the second sustained back injuries and was in a stable condition in hospital, Lanahan said.
”The damage took place in a production panel on 97 level, 2 700m below surface, and they were of 1,9 and 2,3 magnitude on the Richter scale,” Lanahan said.
”Given the difficult ground conditions in the area of the incident it is not possible to estimate how long the operation will take, or speculate on the condition of the men.”
Paramedics were at the scene while a medical team was on standby at the mine hospital.
”The Department of Minerals and Energy and the National Union of Mineworkers have both been fully briefed of the incident and are being kept informed of progress of the rescue operations.”
Lanahan said the mine was still trying to contact families of the missing miners.
By Tuesday afternoon the five miners were still missing.
”The search is still on,” said Bontle Mafuna, spokesperson for Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica.– Sapa