900 Workers are trapped underground in the Beatrix Gold Mine in South Africa after a severe storm knocked out the power, leaving the elevators unusable. Though the company was quick to ensure everyone that all is being arranged for their rescue, their union is ‘extremely concerned’.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) said the miners were at risk of dehydration and lack of nutrition, especially those on medication. So far, a rescue team was sent down the 1,000-meter (3280-feet) mine.
Company spokesman James Wellsted: "All employees appear to be fine. We are supplying food and water."
Engineers seemed to be struggling to get emergency generators going again or to get lifts working.
"We are busy working on that issue at the moment.”
<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">[WATCH] eNCA's <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeMarillier?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MikeMarillier</a> discusses the mine-workers trapped underground at Sibanye Gold’s Beatrix mine and also takes a closer look at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SouthAfrica?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SouthAfrica</a>'s mine safety record. Courtesy <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DStv403?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DStv403</a> <a href="https://t.co/HUHrXBd04J">pic.twitter.com/HUHrXBd04J</a></p>— eNCA (@eNCA) <a href="https://twitter.com/eNCA/status/959093890065117186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The mine, which is run by the Sibanye-Stillwater company, has a bad reputation when it comes to the safety of its workers, like most gold mines in South Africa for that matter.
The National Union of Mineworkers (Num) claimed the rescue process the company proposed was "very slow. The problem is they are rescuing one mineworker at a time. It is worrying."
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) released a statement on the incident: "AMCU views this incident as extreme due to the sheer number of workers involved."
"The incident raises serious concern regarding the lacking emergency contingency plans at the mine for alternative and backup power generation."
Amcu leader Mr. Joseph Mathunjwa: "Mining is very unsafe, and mineworkers risk life and limb daily to put bread on the table for their families."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PICTURED: Stillwater-Sibanye mine in South Africa where some 950 miners are STUCK underground <a href="https://t.co/AO4bGVIYQz">https://t.co/AO4bGVIYQz</a> <a href="https://t.co/irucsC6cnb">pic.twitter.com/irucsC6cnb</a></p>— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) <a href="https://twitter.com/MailOnline/status/959096884303364097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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South Africa, home to many of the world’s most sought-after mineral reserves, has some of the deepest and most dangerous mines, but its safety record is quite disputable as some 80 fatalities were recorded in the country's mines last year.
Source:
http://www.wral.com/900-workers-trapped-in-south-african-gold-mine-after-outage/17305973/
OPPS!!!
Should they have mention the water pumps and ventilation also quit working