Rescue workers say 87 miners brought to surface after cave-in at Makonjwaan mine in Barberton, but three who had been working on surface unaccounted for

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old





Almost 90 miners were rescued and three were still missing after a cave-in at a gold mine in northeastern South Africa on Friday, the firm that owns the mine said.

The collapse at the mine’s main entrance trapped 87 workers underground, all of whom were rescued, Vantage Goldfields said in a statement. However, three others who had been working on the surface at the time of the collapse could not be accounted for.

No deaths were reported. However, there was confusion regarding the number of workers involved.

Mike McChesney, chief executive of the small gold producer, and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union initially said 115 workers had been trapped.

Vantage Goldfields is an Australia-based company mining gold at Barberton, a town that traces its origin in the country’s 19th century gold rush. Vantage was delisted from the Australian bourse in January 2015.

South Africa’s mines are the deepest and among the most dangerous in the world, though fatal accidents in the industry have fallen due to improved safety and a reduction in staff as production declines.

Last year 77 workers were killed in mining accidents, the lowest number on record.