APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) South Africa’s Impala Platinum has suspended operations at its operation in Rustenburg after 11 miners lost their lives following an accident on Monday.
The company said in a statement on Tuesday that the 11 were part of 86 employees who were in Shaft 11 when the accident occurred late Monday.
“Impala Platinum is devastated to report that 11 employees tragically lost their lives in the serious accident at Impala Rustenburg’s 11 Shaft at 16:54 Monday 27 November,” the company said.
It added: “A further 75 employees were injured in the accident and were transferred and admitted for treatment to four hospitals in the region.”
It said the mine rescue operation had now been completed and all 86 employees had been accounted for.
“All mining operations at Impala Rustenburg are suspended,” the statement said.
Impala is one of South Africa’s platinum producers that operate some of the deepest mining shafts in the world.
NM/jn/APA