Eleven miners have died in a safety incident at the 11 Shaft operation at Impala Rustenburg in South Africa’s North West province.
A winder rope, crucial to the conveyance system transporting employees up and down the shaft, was involved in a serious incident on Monday afternoon.
This rope is connected to personnel conveyance, which hoists employees up and down the shaft. The conveyance runs through three levels, each with a capacity to carry 35 personnel.
Preliminary reports suggest there have been several severe injuries so far. Authorities at the mine say it’s difficult to assess human impact accurately amid challenging circumstances.
Immediate response teams, including paramedics and proto teams, were on the scene on Monday. Two upper levels of the conveyance have been cleared, with the focus now on vacating the lower level.
Implats, expressing deep regret, emphasised the company prioritises employee safety.
“We are providing all possible support to those involved and working closely with the relevant authorities,” it said on the Implats website.
Implats will share regular updates as the situation unfolds.
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