More than 3,000 stuck in South African mine

[Bishka]

A pipe broke, severing power cables to the lift and trapping workers at the bottom of a 2.2km (1.4 mile) shaft.

Rescuers are planning to use an adjacent shaft to lift them out, a spokeswoman for the mine's owner, Harmony Gold Mining, said.
The accident happened at about 1000 (0800 GMT), some 80km (50 miles) west of Johannesburg.

The spokeswoman, Amelia Soares, told the BBC that no-one was injured and that the miners have access to water.

She said the bottom of the shaft, where they are trapped, is well ventilated.

Link here

 

[ayani]

i know! but i'm glad they're getting them out quickly. and they have air, which is good. this doesn't look like it'll turn into a kentucky-style disaster.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Hopefully not, but we need to take these initial reports with a grain of salt.

 

[.lava]

Link here

oh dear, i've just heard it on news. 3000! how come they have just one entrance/exit for 3000 people? there are towns with same number of population.

 

[lillitruthseeker]

oh dear, i've just heard it on news. 3000! how come they have just one entrance/exit for 3000 people? there are towns with same number of population.

Maybe cause they dont have OSHA there?

 

[.lava]

Maybe cause they dont have OSHA there?

what's OSHA?

 

[lillitruthseeker]

Occupational Safety and Health Administration -- protects workers so that companies have to make working conditions safe -- mining companies push the limits too much and they do so in spite of the workers -- greed makes for unsafe working conditions

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

This was reported last Wednesday here... it took 40 hours to lift them all out.