Rescue operations are in progress for 289 mine workers trapped underground at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Kloof gold mine near Johannesburg, the company confirmed Friday.
The miners have been stranded in shaft 7 since Thursday at 10pm local time (2000 GMT) due to a malfunctioning door.
However, Sibanye-Stillwater reassured that all workers are safe and accounted for, with food being provided as efforts to bring them to the surface continue.
“We can confirm we had an incident at Kloof 7 shaft and are busy making safe and shaft exam procedures, whereafter we will hoist the employees to the surface,” a company spokesperson said.
The incident has raised concerns about safety measures at South Africa’s mines, which have faced scrutiny over working conditions and emergency preparedness.
JN/APA