One miner died and several others were rescued following an earth tremor at Harmony Gold's Bambanani mine in the Free State, an official said on Tuesday.
The body of one employee was found around 3.30pm on Tuesday and one miner remained missing, said mineral resources department spokeswoman Zingaphi Jakuja.
“The rescue team is still searching for one remaining employee,” she said.
Initially, eight miners were trapped underground but four were rescued shortly after the 2.1 magnitude tremor. Those four sustained minor injuries.
Later on Monday, another two were rescued.
“Two of the four remaining employees have been rescued but with one seriously injured.”
The department extended its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased, said Jakuja.
Mine management had dispatched six proto teams consisting of rock engineers to assist in securing and clearing the area so that rescue efforts could continue safely.
The teams were working in shifts due to space constraints underground.
Sapa
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